Lithium phosphide
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| ImageSize = 200px
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| IUPACName =
| OtherNames = Trilithium phosphide
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 12057-29-3
| PubChem = 25199615
| ChemSpiderID = 74796
| EINECS = 235-020-0
| SMILES = [Li+].[Li+].[Li+].[P-3]
| StdInChI= InChI=1S/3Li.H2P/h;;;1H2/q3*+1;-1
| StdInChIKey= IEAMEDSGNMSUND-UHFFFAOYSA-N
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| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| Li=3|P=1
| Appearance = Red-brown crystals
| Density = 1.43 g/cm3
| Solubility = Reacts
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| Section4 = {{Chembox Structure
| CrystalStruct = cubic
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| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards
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| Section9 = {{Chembox Related
| OtherAnions = {{ubl|Lithium nitride|Lithium arsenide}}
| OtherCations = {{ubl|Sodium phosphide|Calcium phosphide|Aluminium phosphide|Scandium phosphide|Lanthanum phosphide}}
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Lithium phosphide is an inorganic compound of lithium and phosphorus with the chemical formula {{chem2|Li3P}}. This dark colored compound is formally the lithium salt of phosphine, consisting of lithium cations {{chem2|Li+}} and phosphide anions {{chem2|P(3−)}}. It is hazardous to handle because of its high reactivity toward air.
Synthesis
Heating red phosphorus and lithium in an argon atmosphere:{{cite book|author=E. Donges|chapter=Phosphides, Arsenides, Antimonides and Bismuthides of Alkali Metals from the Elements|title=Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. |editor=G. Brauer|publisher=Academic Press|year=1963|place=NY, NY|volume=2|page=985}}
:{{chem2|12 Li + P4 → 4 Li3P}}
Reaction of monolithium phosphide and lithium:
:{{chem2|LiP + 2 Li → Li3P}}
Physical and chemical properties
Lithium phosphide forms red-brown crystals of hexagonal systems, space group P63/mmc,{{cite web |title=mp-736: Li3P (hexagonal, P6_3/mmc, 194) |url=https://materialsproject.org/materials/mp-736/ |publisher=materialsproject.org |access-date=10 December 2021}} cell parameters a = 0.4264 nm, c = 0.7579 nm, Z = 2.{{cite journal |last1=Seel |first1=Max |last2=Pandey |first2=Ravi |title=Band Structure and Electronic Properties of Lithium Phosphide Li3P |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/mrs-online-proceedings-library-archive/article/abs/band-structure-and-electronic-properties-of-lithium-phosphide-li3p/1568CFF750019D7E79D485BDD4EAB752 |journal=MRS Proceedings |access-date=10 December 2021 |language=en |doi=10.1557/PROC-210-155 |date=1990|volume=210|url-access=subscription }}{{cite book |last1=Donnay |first1=Joseph Désiré Hubert |title=Crystal Data; Determinative Tables |date=1963 |publisher=American Crystallographic Association |page=765 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x5ghAQAAMAAJ&dq=lithium+phosphide+Li3P&pg=PA765 |access-date=10 December 2021 |language=en}}
The compound is a very strong base, and reacts with water to release phosphine:{{cite journal |last1=Dong |first1=Yongkwan |last2=DiSalvo |first2=Francis J. |title=Reinvestigation of trilithium phosphide, Li 3 P |journal=Acta Crystallographica Section E |pages=i97–i98 |doi=10.1107/S1600536807008422| url=http://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/paper?S1600536807008422 |date=15 April 2007|volume=63 |issue=4|url-access=subscription }}
:{{chem2|Li3P + 3 H2O → 3 LiOH + PH3}}
Uses
The compound is proposed to be used as a potential electrolyte for solid-state devices.{{cite book |last1=Wan |first1=Chaoying |last2=Huang |first2=Xingyi |last3=Bowen |first3=Chris |title=Two-dimensional Inorganic Nanomaterials for Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites |date=23 June 2021 |publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry |isbn=978-1-83916-260-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r7k0EAAAQBAJ&dq=lithium+phosphide+Li3P&pg=PT222 |access-date=10 December 2021 |language=en}}
Related compounds
Reaction of lithium with red phosphorus at 870 °C gives {{chem2|Li3P7}}.{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/zaac.19865390810 |title=Zur Chemie und Strukturchemie von Phosphiden und Polyphosphiden. 42. Trilithiumheptaphosphid Li3P7: Darstellung, Struktur und Eigenschaften |date=1986 |last1=Manriquez |first1=V. |last2=Hönle |first2=W. |last3=von Schnering |first3=H. G. |journal=Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie |volume=539 |issue=8 |pages=95–109}}
Further reading
- {{cite journal |last1=Nazri |first1=Gholamabbas |title=Preparation, structure and ionic conductivity of lithium phosphide |journal=Solid State Ionics |pages=97–102 |doi=10.1016/0167-2738(89)90438-4 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0167273889904384|date=1 April 1989|volume=34 |issue=1–2|url-access=subscription }}
Safety
Alkali metal phosphides are dangerous compounds when exposed to oxygen or moisture.{{cite book |title=Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory |date=1979 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwXoYmUt_B0C&dq=lithium+phosphide+Li3P&pg=RA1-PA46 |access-date=10 December 2021 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lithium compounds}}
{{Phosphorus compounds}}
{{Phosphides}}