Abstract: A process for the production of a red phosphorus powder, which comprises heating a yellow phosphorus at the boiling point therof in the presence of a dispersant selected from the group of a surfactant, a sparingly in water, finely powdered inorganic compound, an inorganic ammonium salt or an organic compound containing an amino group, thereby to partly convert the yellow phosphorus to red phosphorus, removing most of the unconverted yellow phosphorus by distillation at the boiling point of yellow phosphorus, and further removing the slight amount of the still remaining yellow phosphorus by heating a temperature not lower than the boiling point of yellow phosphorus to obtain a red phosphorus fine powder which is less apt to undergo a disproportionation reaction.