Phosphorushydrogen

Phosphorushydrogen is not a standard chemical name and does not denote a single, officially recognized compound in contemporary chemical literature. The term may be encountered as a shorthand or misnomer for phosphorus hydrides—compounds containing phosphorus bonded to hydrogen—or as a fictional or hypothetical species in non-scientific contexts. Because there is no consensus definition, the exact composition, structure, and properties attributed to "phosphorushydrogen" vary between sources.

In practice, the family of phosphorus hydrides includes PH3 (phosphine), the best-known member, which is a colorless, highly toxic gas used in semiconductor processing and as a reagent in organic synthesis. Other phosphorus hydrides are reported with different H:P ratios and structures, ranging from discrete molecules to more complex frameworks, but they are less well characterized and often unstable under ambient conditions.

Safety and handling: Phosphorus hydrides are generally hazardous; phosphine in particular is toxic and flammable. Proper ventilation and gas-handling procedures are essential. Synthesis routes typically involve the reduction of phosphorus compounds or reactions of phosphorus with hydrogen under high pressure or catalysis, depending on the target hydride.

See also: Phosphine, Phosphorus hydrides, Hydrogen.