PLEASE HELP!

Why is phosphorus diamagnetic.

I can't believe it and phosphorus diamagnetic.

FROM the magnetic point of view, phosphorus is an extremely interesting

substance because of its allotropic modifications. The ordinary forms are

the yellow (or white) and the red varieties. X-ray investigations indicate

that probably yellow phosphorus is analogous with the cubic forms of antimony and arsenic; and red phosphorus with monoclinic antimony and

arsenic (Mellor, 1928). The conclusions of different workers on the structure of red phosphorus are not in agreement. There is also Bridgman's black

phosphorus which is probably hexagonal (Linck and lung, 1925). Natta

and Passerini (1930) have studied the crystal structure of white phosphorus.

This substance when condensed at the temperature of liquid ammonia is

cubic. Atomic positions however are yet undetermined. Another and noncubic form is obtained by condensation at liquid-air temperatures. It is

thus clear that most likely white phosphorus is cubic in structure with a

probable superposition of another lattice.

The evidence from Raman effect also points to the same conclusion.

Bhagavantam (1930) investigated the Raman effect of white phosphorus in

the solid state. The characteristic frequencies obtained by him are 607, 468

and 374. Since the phosphorus molecule is known to contain 4 atoms,

Bhagavantam (1930) has shown that the tetrahedral structure fits the results

satisfactorily since such a structure would give only three frequencies. But

for the particular law of forces adopted, the frequencies should have the

ratio 2: 2: 1 but the observed frequencies deviate considerably.

c. heat could easily travel through the molecules in the air and escape/enter the flask. removing the air slows down the heat transfer.