Editing Phosphorus (section)

====Phosphides and phosphine====
{{main|Phosphide|Template:Phosphides}}
A wide variety of compounds which contain the containing the phosphide ion {{chem2|P(3−)}} exist, both with [[main-group element]]s and with [[metal]]s. They often exhibit complex structures, where phosphorus has the −3 oxidation state. Metal phosphides arise by reaction of metals with red phosphorus. The [[alkali metal]]s (group 1) and [[alkaline earth metal]]s (group 2) can also form compounds such as {{chem2|Na3P7|link=sodium phosphide}}. These compounds react with water to form [[phosphine]].{{r|Greenwood1997}} Some phosphide minerals are also known, like {{chem2|(Fe,Ni)2P|link=Allabogdanite}} and {{chem2|(Fe,Ni)3P|link=Schreibersite}}, but they are very rare on Earth, most instances occurring in [[Iron meteorite|iron-nickel meteorite]]s.

Phosphine ({{chem2|PH3}}) and its organic derivatives are structural analogues of [[ammonia]] ({{chem2|NH3}}), but the bond angles at phosphorus are closer to 90° for phosphine and its organic derivatives. It is an ill-smelling and toxic gas, produced by hydrolysis of [[calcium phosphide]] ({{chem2|Ca3P2}}). Unlike ammonia, phosphine is oxidised by air. Phosphine is also far less basic than ammonia. Other phosphines are known which contain chains of up to nine phosphorus atoms and have the formula {{chem2|P_{''n''}H_{''n''+2}|}}.{{r|Greenwood1997}} The highly flammable gas [[diphosphine]] ({{chem2|P2H4}}) is an analogue of [[hydrazine]].