ELi5: What makes white phosphorus so dangerous when used as a weapon of war?
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“Dangerous” may not be the right term.
White phosphorus is a white, wax-like substance. It self-ignites very easily, and burns extremely hot and fast – 2760°C/5000°F. That is enough to destroy most types of clothing and armour, get down to skin, and cause fourth-degree burns in seconds. Since it’s a waxy solid, it sticks to you as it’s burning you, making it hard to escape from. Imagine being splattered with hot candle wax that burns through your clothes, skin and muscles, where it sticks to your bones.
Because of its nature, before such wounds can be treated, physicians must ensure all traces of phosphorus are removed. Multiple stories exist of white phosphorus victims who have been weeks into recovery, when a bandage has been removed, exposing some small trace of leftover phosphorus to oxygen and igniting it again.
It’s also extremely toxic. Breathing in white phosphorus fumes can seriously irritate your lungs and eventually cause a condition called phossy jaw, which involves your lower jaw breaking down. Ingesting it causes liver damage and eventual liver failure.
It’s no more “dangerous” than being shot in the head or dismembered. However, it is widely considered an extremely immoral, inhumane weapon for two reasons:
1) it is usually deployed through the use of grenades, missiles, or other explosives. This causes *indiscriminate* sprays of white phosphorus, which may hit unintended targets, and often does.
2) It is an extremely painful, agonising way to go, and extremely traumatising to watch. While most white phosphorus victims die, those who survive are often permanently disfigured.
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