Calcium phosphide

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Calcium phosphide
429048-ICSD.png
Names
IUPAC name
Calcium phosphide
Other names
Photophor, CP, Polythanol
Identifiers
  • 1305-99-3 checkY
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.013.766 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 215-142-0
UNII
  • InChI=1S/3Ca.2P/q;;+2;2*-1
    Key: GOKCLHLCMXPYLQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Ca+2].[Ca+2].[Ca+2].[P-3].[P-3]
Properties
Ca3P2
Molar mass 182.18 g/mol
Appearance red-brown crystalline powder or grey lumps
Density 2.51 g/cm3
Melting point ~1600 °C
decomposes
Hazards
Main hazards Source of toxic phosphine, dangerous reaction with water
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS05: CorrosiveGHS06: ToxicGHS09: Environmental hazard
Signal word
 Danger
H260, H300, H311, H318, H330, H400
P231+P232, P233, P280, P301+P310, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
4
0
3
W
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Calcium phosphide (CP) is the inorganic compound with the formula Ca3P2. It is one of several phosphides of calcium, being described as the salt-like material composed of Ca2+ and P3−. Other, more exotic calcium phosphides have the formula CaP, CaP3, Ca2P2, and Ca5P8.

Ca3P2 has the appearance of red-brown crystalline powder or grey lumps. Its trade name is Photophor for the incendiary use or Polytanol for the use as rodenticide.[1]

Preparation and structure[]

It may be formed by reaction of the elements,[2] but it is more commonly prepared by carbothermal reduction of calcium phosphate:[3]

Ca3(PO4)2 + 8 C → Ca3P2 + 8 CO

The structure of the room temperature form of Ca3P2 has not been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. A high temperature phase has been characterized by Rietveld refinement. Ca2+ centers are octahedral.[2]

Uses[]

Metal phosphides are used as a rodenticide. A mixture of food and calcium phosphide is left where the rodents can eat it. The acid in the digestive system of the rodent reacts with the phosphide to generate the toxic gas phosphine. This method of vermin control has possible use in places where rodents immune to many of the common warfarin-type (anticoagulant) poisons have appeared. Other pesticides similar to calcium phosphide are zinc phosphide and aluminium phosphide.

Calcium phosphide is also used in fireworks, torpedoes, self-igniting naval pyrotechnic flares, and various water-activated ammunition. During the 1920s and 1930s, Charles Kingsford Smith used separate buoyant canisters of calcium carbide and calcium phosphide as naval flares lasting up to ten minutes. It is speculated that calcium phosphide—made by boiling bones in urine, within a closed vessel—was an ingredient of some ancient Greek fire formulas.[4]

Calcium phosphide is a common impurity in calcium carbide, which may cause the resulting phosphine-contaminated acetylene to ignite spontaneously.[5]

Safety considerations[]

On contact with acids or water, the material releases phosphine, which is toxic and is readily ignited.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Richard C. Ropp (31 December 2012). Encyclopedia of the Alkaline Earth Compounds. Newnes. pp. 231–. ISBN 978-0-444-59553-9.
  2. ^ a b Lilia S. Xie, Leslie M. Schoop, Elizabeth M. Seibel, Quinn D. Gibson, Weiwei Xie, Cava, Robert J. (2015). "A new form of Ca3P2 with a ring of Dirac nodes". APL Materials. 3 (8): 083602. arXiv:1504.01731. Bibcode:2015APLM....3h3602X. doi:10.1063/1.4926545.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. ^ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  4. ^ Colin McEvedy (1992),The New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History, New York: Penguin.
  5. ^ GOV, NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, US. "CALCIUM PHOSPHIDE | CAMEO Chemicals | NOAA". cameochemicals.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
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