Substance profile
Phosphine
Phosphine is a colorless gas; flammable with a disagreeable, garlic-like odor.
01 · Identification
What Phosphine is
Phosphine is a colorless gas; flammable with a disagreeable, garlic-like odor. It boils at -87.7 °C, melts at -134 °C, is slightly soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H220 | Extremely flammable gas. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
Precautionary statements: P210, P233, P260, P271, P273, P280, P301, P304, P310, P331, P391, P403, P501
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Phosphine properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | -87.75 °C (-125.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| -87.78 °C (-126 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -87.78 °C (-126 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | -133.8 °C (-208.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| -133.89 °C (-209 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -132.78 °C (-207 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 0.0015 g/cm³ | ICSC | |
| 0.8 g/cm³ | ICSC | ||
| 0.0014 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water | HSDB | |
| Slightly soluble in cold water. Insoluble in hot water. | HSDB | ||
| Slightly soluble in water (0.26 volume at 20 °C) | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 31390 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 26160 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 29300 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Flash point | NA (Gas) | NIOSH | |
| Flammable gas | ICSC | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 100 °C (212 °F) | HSDB | |
| 38 °C (100.4 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.79 % by volume | NIOSH | |
| 1.6 % by volume | estimated | ICSC | |
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 100 % by volume | estimated | ICSC |
| Dangerous fire hazard from spontaneous chemical reaction. (EPA, 1998) | CAMEO | ||
| Dangerous fire hazard from spontaneous chemical reaction. | OSHA | ||
| Vapor density | 1.17 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 1.18 (air = 1) | ICSC | ||
| Odor threshold | 0.03 PPM | HSDB | |
| Air: 0.51 uL/L; Water: 0.0002 mg/L; Odor Safety Class: D; D= 10-50% of attentive persons can detect TLV concn in the air. | HSDB | ||
| Phosphine's characteristic decayed fish odor is barely detectable at concentrations of 1.5 to 3 ppm. | HSDB | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 51.35 °C (124.4 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Phosphine
Storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Contents under pressure. Storage class (TRGS 510): Gases.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents, oxidizing agents, halogens, nitric acid.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
PHOSPHINE is a reducing agent. Ignites spontaneously in air when pure [Sidgwick, 1950, p. 729]. Liquefied phosphine can be detonated [Rust, 1948, p. 301]. Ignites or reacts violently with boron trichloride, dichlorine oxide, halogens (bromine, chlorine, iodine), metal nitrates, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, nitrous acid, nitrogen trichloride [Bretherick, 5th ed., 1995, p. 1562]. Forms explosive mixtures with even small amounts of oxygen. Autoignites at low pressures [Fisher, E. O. et al., Angew. Chem., 1968, 7, p. 136].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Phosphine in the storage compatibility matrix →