White phosphorus burns spontaneously in chlorine to produce a mixture of two chlorides, phosphorus (ii) chloride and phosphorus(v) chloride and heat is evolved. Phosphorus (iii) chloride is a colorless fuming liquid:
P4 + 6Cl2 = 4PCl3
Phosphorus (v) chloride is an off-white solid
P4 +10Cl2 = 4PCl5
