Lutetium phosphide is an

inorganic compound In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...

lutetium Lutetium is a chemical element with the symbol Lu and atomic number 71. It is a silvery white metal, which resists corrosion in dry air, but not in moist air. Lutetium is the last element in the lanthanide series, and it is traditionally counted am ...

and

phosphorus Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and atomic number 15. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Ear ...

with the chemical formula . The compound forms dark crystals, does not dissolve in water.

Synthesis

Heating powdered lutetium and

red phosphorus Elemental phosphorus can exist in several allotropes, the most common of which are white and red solids. Solid violet and black allotropes are also known. Gaseous phosphorus exists as diphosphorus and atomic phosphorus. White phosphorus White ...

in an inert atmosphere or vacuum: ::4Lu + P4 -> 4LuP It can also be formed in the reaction of lutetium and

phosphine Phosphine (IUPAC name: phosphane) is a colorless, flammable, highly toxic compound with the chemical formula , classed as a pnictogen hydride. Pure phosphine is odorless, but technical grade samples have a highly unpleasant odor like rotting ...

Physical properties

Lutetium phosphide forms dark cubic crystals, space group Fmm, cell parameters a = 0.5533 nm, Z = 4. Stable in air, does not dissolve in water and reacts actively with

nitric acid Nitric acid is the inorganic compound with the formula . It is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The compound is colorless, but older samples tend to be yellow cast due to decomposition into oxides of nitrogen. Most commercially available nitri ...

Uses

The compound is a semiconductor used in high power, high-frequency applications, and in laser diodes. Also used in gamma radiation detectors due to its ability to absorb radiation.

References

{{Phosphides Phosphides Lutetium compounds Semiconductors Rock salt crystal structure