phosphide

thumb|A portion of the structure of , highlighting the highly crosslinked nature common to many transition metal phosphides (Cu = orange, P = purple). In chemistry, a phosphide is a compound containing the ion or its equivalent. Many different phosphides are known, with widely differing structures. Most commonly encountered on the binary phosphides, i.e. those materials consisting only of phosphorus and a less electronegative element. Numerous are polyphosphides, which are solids consisting of anionic chains or clusters of phosphorus. Phosphides are known with the majority of less electronegative elements with the exception of Hg, Pb, Sb, Bi, Te, and Po. Finally, some phosphides are molecular.

==Binary phosphides== Binary phosphides include phosphorus and one other element. An example of a group 1 phosphide is sodium phosphide (). Other notable examples include aluminium phosphide () and calcium phosphide (), which are used as pesticides, exploiting their tendency to release toxic phosphine upon hydrolysis. Magnesium phosphide () also is moisture sensitive. Indium phosphide () and gallium phosphide () are used as a semi-conductors, often in combination of related arsenides. Copper phosphide () illustrates a rare stoichiometry for a phosphide. These species are insoluble in all solvents - they are 3-dimensional solid state polymers. For those with electropositive metals, the materials hydrolyze: