Copper phosphide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula , a phosphide of copper. It is a brittle, yellowish-grey solid.
Properties Copper phosphide does not react with water. It shows fluorescence when subjected to ultraviolet light.
Structure Recent crystallographic investigations have proven Cu3P to be copper deficient, which means that the sum formula of this compound is more accurately expressed as Cu3−xP.
Production Copper phosphide can be produced in a reverberatory furnace or crucible by the reaction of red phosphorus with a copper-rich material.
It can be prepared photochemically, by irradiating cupric hypophosphite with ultraviolet radiation.
It can also be produced by reducing copper(II) phosphate with aluminum.
Uses Copper phosphide has a role in copper alloys, namely in phosphor bronze. It is a very good deoxidizer of copper.
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