Lithium phosphide

Lithium phosphide
Names
	Other names Trilithium phosphide
Identifiers
CAS Number	12057-29-3;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	74796;
ECHA InfoCard	100.031.824
EC Number	235-020-0;
PubChem CID	25199615;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4065232 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/3Li.H2P/h;;;1H2/q3*+1;-1 Key: IEAMEDSGNMSUND-UHFFFAOYSA-N;
	SMILES [Li+].[Li+].[Li+].[P-3];
Properties
Chemical formula	Li3P
Molar mass	51.79 g·mol−1
Appearance	Red-brown crystals
Density	1.43 g/cm3
Solubility in water	Reacts
Structure
Crystal structure	cubic
Related compounds
Other anions	Lithium nitride; Lithium arsenide;
Other cations	Sodium phosphide; Calcium phosphide; Aluminium phosphide; Scandium phosphide; Lanthanum phosphide;
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Lithium phosphide is an inorganic compound of lithium and phosphorus with the chemical formula Li₃P. This dark colored compound is formally the lithium salt of phosphine, consisting of lithium cations Li⁺ and phosphide anions P³⁻. It is hazardous to handle because of its high reactivity toward air.^[1]

Synthesis

Heating red phosphorus and lithium in an argon atmosphere:^[1]

12 Li + P₄ → 4 Li₃P

Reaction of monolithium phosphide and lithium:

LiP + 2 Li → Li₃P

Physical and chemical properties

Lithium phosphide forms red-brown crystals of hexagonal systems, space group P6₃/mmc,^[2] cell parameters a = 0.4264 nm, c = 0.7579 nm, Z = 2.^[3]^[4]

The compound is a very strong base, and reacts with water to release phosphine:^[5]

Li₃P + 3 H₂O → 3 LiOH + PH₃

Uses

The compound is proposed to be used as a potential electrolyte for solid-state devices.^[6]

Related compounds

Reaction of lithium with red phosphorus at 870 °C gives Li₃P₇.^[7]

Safety

Alkali metal phosphides are dangerous compounds when exposed to oxygen or moisture.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b E. Donges (1963). "Phosphides, Arsenides, Antimonides and Bismuthides of Alkali Metals from the Elements". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 2. NY, NY: Academic Press. p. 985.
^ "mp-736: Li3P (hexagonal, P6_3/mmc, 194)". materialsproject.org. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
^ Seel, Max; Pandey, Ravi (1990). "Band Structure and Electronic Properties of Lithium Phosphide Li3P". MRS Proceedings. 210. doi:10.1557/PROC-210-155. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
^ Donnay, Joseph Désiré Hubert (1963). Crystal Data; Determinative Tables. American Crystallographic Association. p. 765. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
^ Dong, Yongkwan; DiSalvo, Francis J. (15 April 2007). "Reinvestigation of trilithium phosphide, Li 3 P". Acta Crystallographica Section E. 63 (4): i97 – i98. doi:10.1107/S1600536807008422.
^ Wan, Chaoying; Huang, Xingyi; Bowen, Chris (23 June 2021). Two-dimensional Inorganic Nanomaterials for Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-1-83916-260-2. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
^ Manriquez, V.; Hönle, W.; von Schnering, H. G. (1986). "Zur Chemie und Strukturchemie von Phosphiden und Polyphosphiden. 42. Trilithiumheptaphosphid Li₃P₇: Darstellung, Struktur und Eigenschaften". Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie. 539 (8): 95–109. doi:10.1002/zaac.19865390810.
^ Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1979. p. 9. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

[Brauer-1] E. Donges (1963). "Phosphides, Arsenides, Antimonides and Bismuthides of Alkali Metals from the Elements". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 2. NY, NY: Academic Press. p. 985.

[2] "mp-736: Li3P (hexagonal, P6_3/mmc, 194)". materialsproject.org. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

[3] Seel, Max; Pandey, Ravi (1990). "Band Structure and Electronic Properties of Lithium Phosphide Li3P". MRS Proceedings. 210. doi:10.1557/PROC-210-155. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

[4] Donnay, Joseph Désiré Hubert (1963). Crystal Data; Determinative Tables. American Crystallographic Association. p. 765. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

[5] Dong, Yongkwan; DiSalvo, Francis J. (15 April 2007). "Reinvestigation of trilithium phosphide, Li 3 P". Acta Crystallographica Section E. 63 (4): i97 – i98. doi:10.1107/S1600536807008422.

[6] Wan, Chaoying; Huang, Xingyi; Bowen, Chris (23 June 2021). Two-dimensional Inorganic Nanomaterials for Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-1-83916-260-2. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

[7] Manriquez, V.; Hönle, W.; von Schnering, H. G. (1986). "Zur Chemie und Strukturchemie von Phosphiden und Polyphosphiden. 42. Trilithiumheptaphosphid Li₃P₇: Darstellung, Struktur und Eigenschaften". Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie. 539 (8): 95–109. doi:10.1002/zaac.19865390810.

[8] Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1979. p. 9. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]