Barium phosphide has the molecular formula of
Ba3P2 and the molecular weight of 182.1825 g/mol. Its
CAS number is 12380-72-2. It is a red-brown crystalline
material with a melting point of 1585 °C. Its density is
2.51 g/cm3. It readily reacts with water to form phosphine,
PH3, but is insoluble in ethanol.?
It is easily prepared by reacting the metal with red
phosphorus at high temperature. The best way is to
sublime the P4 at 450 °C in an inert gas stream and react
it with Ba metal at 600 °C:?
6Ba + 2P4 ? 2Ba3P4
Barium Phosphide is a semiconductor used in highpower,
high-frequency applications and in laser diodes.
It crystallizes in the body-centered cubic mode.
The standard Gibbs energies of formation of barium
phosphide was determined by a chemical equilibration
technique yielding the following results.
