Question

Phosphine is produced by adding water to
A. $Ca{C_2}$
B. $HP{O_3}$
C. $C{a_3}{P_2}$
D. ${P_4}{O_{10}}$

Answer 1

Hint: Phosphine is found in extremely low and very variable quantities in the Earth's atmosphere. It has the potential to make a major contribution to the global phosphorus biogeochemical cycle. Because environmental systems lack known reducing agents of sufficient strength to directly convert phosphate to phosphine, the most plausible source is phosphate reduction in decaying organic matter, perhaps via partial reductions and disproportionation.

Complete answer:
Phosphine (IUPAC: phosphane) is a colourless, combustible, and very poisonous gas molecule with the chemical formula $P{H_3}$ that belongs to the pnictogen hydride family. Due to the presence of substituted phosphine and diphosphane, technical grade samples have a very terrible odour that smells like rotting fish (${P_2}{H_4}$).$P{H_3}$ is spontaneously combustible in air (pyrophoric) when residues of ${P_2}{H_4}$ are present, blazing with a bright flame. Phosphine is a very toxic respiratory toxin that is instantaneously lethal at 50 parts per million. The structure of phosphorus is trigonal pyramidal. Phosphine is also the common name for a group of organophosphorus compounds known as substituted phosphanes, which are phosphates in which the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with an organic derivative and have the general formula$P{R_3}$. Organophosphines play a significant role in catalysts because they can complex (adhere) to a variety of metal ions. Complexes generated from chiral phosphines can catalyse processes to produce chiral, enantioenriched products.
Adding $C{a_3}{P_2}$ to water produces phosphophine. The response is depicted in the equation below.
${\text{C}}{{\text{a}}_{\text{3}}}{{\text{P}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{ + 6}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}} \to {\text{3Ca(OH}}{{\text{)}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{ + 2P}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}$

Hence option (C) is correct.

Note:
The inorganic compound calcium phosphide (CP) has the formula $C{a_3}{P_2}$. It's one of numerous calcium phosphides, and it's characterised as a salt-like substance made up of \[C{a^{2 + }}\] and ${P^{3 - }}$.
$C{a_3}{P_2}$ appears as a reddish-brown crystalline powder or grey lumps. Photophore is the brand name for the incendiary version, while Polytanol is the brand name for the rodenticide version.