phosphine

American  

[fos-feen, -fin] / ˈfɒs fin, -fɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, poisonous, ill-smelling, flammable gas, PH 3 .

2. any of certain organic derivatives of this compound.

---

phosphine British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of phosphine

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

Example Sentences

Similar to traditional palladium-based catalysis, the behavior of photoexcited palladium catalysts is highly dependent on the phosphine ligand attached to the metal.

From Science Daily

"Proof has been found that this chemical product was used by the hotel," the report added, indicating that there was "solid proof" that the family "died as a result of phosphine gas".

From Barron's

On Earth, phosphine arises naturally from decaying organic material in swamps, but on other planets, it is rare and intriguing.

From Science Daily

In 2020, the astronomy world was roused at the prospect of phosphine, a gas associated with anaerobic bacteria, after it was seemingly detected in the Venusian atmosphere.

From Salon

In 2020 researchers publishing in the journal Nature Astronomy revealed that the atmosphere of Venus appeared to contain trace amounts of phosphine, a gas associated with anaerobic bacteria on Earth.

From Salon