Alkali metal phosphides disodium phosphide, Na/sub 2/P

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1950

OSTI ID:6314098

Evers, E C; Roggenburg, S; Street, E H; Jung, S L

Disodium phosphide forms an ammoniate, stable at room temperature, which undergoes decomposition when heated, evolving hydrogen and ammonia. The formual suggested is Na/sub 4/P/sub 2/.2NH/sub 3/. Disodium phosphide hydrolyzes at room temperature forming phosphine, hydrogen and nonvolatile compounds of phosphorus. Heavy metal derivative of silver, lead and copper have been prepared. The copper compound is amorphous to x-radiation and corresponds to the formula CuP. The silver and lead derivative often contain free metal and have variable compositions. The sodium compound is reduced in liquid ammonia with ammonium bromide: Na/sub 4/P/sub 2/ + 2Na + 4NH/sub 4/Br = 4NaPH/sub 2/ + 2NaBr + 4NH/sub 3/. A mechanism is suggested which involves the production of H/sub 4/P/sub 2/ as an intermediate. Methyl phosphine has been prepared and characterized. Its vapor pressure was determined as a function of temperature. Chemical evidence supports the dimerio formula, Na/sub 4/P/sub 2/.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania Univ., Philadelphia (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6314098
• Report Number(s): NP-5900302; ON: DE85900302
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METALS
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLYSIS
LYSIS
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
PHOSPHIDES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
SODIUM
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM PHOSPHIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS