phosphine

[ fos-feen, -fin ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, poisonous, ill-smelling, flammable gas, PH 3 .
2. any of certain organic derivatives of this compound.

phosphine

/ ˈfɒsfiːn /

noun

1. a colourless flammable gas that is slightly soluble in water and has a strong fishy odour: used as a pesticide. Formula: PH 3

Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphine¹

First recorded in 1870–75; phosph- + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

The substance reacted with moisture, creating the poisonous gas phosphine, which has been likened to a chemical warfare agent.

From BBC

The most plausible is phosphine gas, created from the fermentation of plant matter inside the soil’s low-oxygen environment.

From National Geographic

If phosphine is the first step to discovering life on Venus, it's going to be a long time before we do, Wright said, including starting and completing many of the planned missions to Venus.

From Salon

Yet subsequent research failed to replicate the initial supposed findings of phosphine.

From Salon

In 2020, there was even a brief pulse of hope that life had been confirmed when scientists believed they had detected phosphine, a gas that on Earth is inextricably linked with anaerobic bacteria.

From Salon