CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
| Physical Description | Phosphine appears as a colorless gas with a disagreeable odor of fish or garlic. Boiling point -126 °F; freezing point -209 °F. Very toxic by inhalation at extremely low concentrations. Prolonged heating may cause containers to rupture violently and rocket. Rate of onset: Immediate & Delayed (Lungs) Persistence: Minutes - hours Odor threshold: 0.9 ppm Source/use/other hazard: Insecticide; used in manufacture of flame retardants and incendiaries. |
|---|---|
| Color/Form | Colorless gas; flammable |
| Odor | Disagreeable, garlic-like odor. |
| Boiling Point | -126 °F at 760 mmHg (EPA, 1998) |
| Melting Point | -207 °F (EPA, 1998) |
| Flash Point | Flammable gas |
| Solubility | Slight (NIOSH, 2023) |
| Density | 0.746 at -130 °F (EPA, 1998) - Less dense than water; will float |
| Vapor Density | 1.17 (EPA, 1998) - Heavier than air; will sink (Relative to Air) |
| Vapor Pressure | 760 mmHg at -125.5 °F (EPA, 1998) |
| Stability/Shelf Life | Stable under recommended storage conditions. |
| Autoignition Temperature | 212 °F (100 °C) |
| Decomposition | Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions - Oxides of phosphorus. |
| Heat of Vaporization | 14.6 kJ/mol at -87.75 °C |
| pH | SOLN ARE NEUTRAL |
| Ionization Potential | 9.96 eV |
| Odor Threshold | Odor Threshold Low: 0.01 [ppm] Odor Threshold High: 5.0 [ppm] Recognition odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.14 ppm) |
| Refractive Index | Index of refraction: 1.317 (liq) |
| Other Experimental Properties | Combines violently with oxygen and the halogens. Liberates hydrogen and forms phosphide when passed over heated metal; forms phosphonium salts when brought in contact with halogen acids. |
| Chemical Classes | Toxic Gases & Vapors -> Hydrides |
SAFETY INFORMATION
| Signal word | Danger |
|---|---|
| Pictogram(s) |
 Flame Flammables GHS02  Gas Cylinder Compressed Gases GHS04  Corrosion Corrosives GHS05  Skull and Crossbones Acute Toxicity GHS06  Environment GHS09 |
| GHS Hazard Statements |
H220:Flammable gases H251:Self-heating substances and mixtures H280:Gases under pressure H314:Skin corrosion/irritation H330:Acute toxicity,inhalation H400:Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard |
| Precautionary Statement Codes |
P210:Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. — No smoking. P260:Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray. P280:Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. P303+P361+P353:IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off Immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse SKIN with water/shower. P305+P351+P338:IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continuerinsing. P403+P233:Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed. P403+P235:Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool. P410+P403:Protect from sunlight. Store in a well-ventilated place. |
COMPUTED DESCRIPTORS
| Molecular Weight | 33.998 g/mol |
|---|---|
| XLogP3 | -0.1 |
| Hydrogen Bond Donor Count | 0 |
| Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count | 0 |
| Rotatable Bond Count | 0 |
| Exact Mass | 33.997237093 g/mol |
| Monoisotopic Mass | 33.997237093 g/mol |
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų |
| Heavy Atom Count | 1 |
| Formal Charge | 0 |
| Complexity | 0 |
| Isotope Atom Count | 0 |
| Defined Atom Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Defined Bond Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Covalently-Bonded Unit Count | 1 |
| Compound Is Canonicalized | Yes |
PRODUCT INTRODUCTION
description
Phosphine is a colorless, flammable, and explosive gas at ambient temperature that has the odor of garlic or decaying fish. Small amounts occur naturally from the break down of organic matter. It is slightly soluble in water. Phosphine is used in semiconductor and plastics industries, in the production of a flame retardant, and as a pesticide in stored grain.