Zinc diphosphide
Compound of zinc and phosphorus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zinc diphosphide (ZnP2) is an inorganic chemical compound. It is a red semiconductor solid with a band gap of 2.1 eV.[2] It is one of the two compounds in the zinc-phosphorus system, the other being zinc phosphide (Zn3P2).
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| Properties | |
| ZnP2 | |
| Molar mass | 127.33 g/mol |
| Appearance | red crystals |
| Density | 3.53 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 1,040 °C (1,900 °F; 1,310 K) |
| Structure | |
| Tetragonal, tP24 | |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Synthesis and reactions
Zinc diphosphide can be prepared by the reaction of zinc with phosphorus.
- 2 Zn + P4 → 2 ZnP2
Structure
ZnP2 has a room-temperature tetragonal form that converts to a monoclinic form at around 990 °C.[3] In both of these forms, there are chains of P atoms, helical in the tetragonal, semi-spiral in the monoclinic.[4]
This compound is part of the Zn-Cd-P-As quaternary system and exhibit partial solid-solution with other binary compounds of the system.[5]
Safety
ZnP2, like Zn3P2, is highly toxic due to the release of phosphine gas when the material reacts with gastric acid.