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Aluminium phosphide

Aluminium phosphide
Aluminium phosphide
Names
Other names
Aluminum phosphide
Aluminium(III) phosphide
Aluminium monophosphide
Phostoxin
Fumitoxin
Identifiers
20859-73-8 YesY
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
ChemSpider 28171 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.040.065
EC Number 244-088-0
PubChem 30332
RTECS number BD1400000
UNII E23DR6L59S YesY
Properties
AlP
Molar mass 57.9552 g/mol
Appearance Yellow or gray crystals
Odor garlic-like
Density 2.85 g/cm3
Melting point 2,530 °C (4,590 °F; 2,800 K)
reacts
Band gap 2.5 eV (indirect)
2.75 (IR), ~3 (Vis)
Structure
Zincblende
T2d-F43m
a = 546.35 pm
Tetrahedral
Thermochemistry
47.3 J/mol K
-164.4 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet External MSDS
Toxic T
Dangerous for the Environment (Nature) N
NFPA 704
Flammability code 4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Flash point below 23 °C (73 °F). E.g., propane Health code 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g., VX gas Reactivity code 2: Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water. E.g., phosphorus Special hazard W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner. E.g., cesium, sodiumNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
Flash point > 800 °C (1,470 °F; 1,070 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)
 11.5 mg/kg
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Aluminium phosphide (aluminum phosphide) is a highly toxic inorganic compound with the chemical formula AlP used as a wide band gap semiconductor and a fumigant. This colorless solid is generally sold as a grey-green-yellow powder due to the presence of impurities arising from hydrolysis and oxidation.

AlP crystals are dark grey to dark yellow in color and have a zincblende crystal structure with a lattice constant of 5.4510 Å at 300 K. They are thermodynamically stable up to 1,000 °C (1,830 °F).

Aluminium phosphide reacts with water or acids to release phosphine:

AlP is synthesized by combination of the elements:

Caution must be taken to avoid exposing the AlP to any sources of moisture, as this generates toxic phosphine gas.

AlP is used as a rodenticide, insecticide, and fumigant for stored cereal grains. It is used to kill small verminous mammals such as moles and rodents. The tablets or pellets, known as "wheat pills", typically also contain other chemicals that evolve ammonia which helps to reduce the potential for spontaneous ignition or explosion of the phosphine gas.

AlP is used as both a fumigant and an oral pesticide. As a rodenticide, aluminium phosphide pellets are provided as a mixture with food for consumption by the rodents. The acid in the digestive system of the rodent reacts with the phosphide to generate the toxic phosphine gas. Other pesticides similar to aluminium phosphide are zinc phosphide and calcium phosphide. In this application, aluminium phosphide can be encountered under various brand names, e.g. Celphos, Fostox, Fumitoxin, Phostek , Phostoxin, Quick Phos, Talunex , and Weevil-Cide. It generates phosphine gas according to the following hydrolysis equation.


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