Phosphine

Definition

Phosphine is a colorless, flammable, and toxic gas with the chemical formula PH3, similar to ammonia but with phosphorus replacing nitrogen. It is often encountered in organic chemistry as a ligand in coordination chemistry or as a reagent in the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds.

Related terms

Enantiomers:

Molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed on one another, much like your left and right hands.

Tetrahedral Carbon:

A carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups arranged in the shape of a tetrahedron, serving as a central point around which molecules can exhibit chirality.

Chirality:

A property of asymmetry where an object (or molecule) is not superimposable on its mirror image, important for understanding how different enantiomers can have different biological activities