white phosphorus

white phosphorus - aka Willie Pete , is a chemical weapon that use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus. White phosphorus is used in smoke, illumination, & incendiary munitions, & is commonly the burning element of tracer ammunition. Other common names for white phosphorus munitions include WP & the slang terms Willie Pete & Willie Peter, which are derived from William Peter, the WWII phonetic alphabet rendering of the letters WP. White phosphorus is pyrophoric (it is ignited by contact with air) burns fiercely; it can ignite cloth, fuel, ammunition, & other combustibles. It has to be stored under water when not in use , The Only way to put it out is to smother it . If you were to get it on your skin it would burn You down to your bones & teeth . When dropped by airplanes & helicopters it's Reminiscent of fireworks but raining down in Greyish white streaks . In WW II it was used as a smokescreen. White phosphorus ignites when interacting with oxygen, releasing a large amount of smoke during combustion. The military can use the curtain to mask their troops movements.