Metal phosphides

The structure of phosphides of the most of elements: alkali, alkaline earth, rare earth, transition metals, actinides, indium, beryllium, cadmium forming the variety of formulae and types of structures, is considered. The ways of P atom combination in phosphides vary from single atoms (ions P3- in compounds of electropositive elements) through one-, two-dimensional complexes Pn up to three-dimensional (charged) grids. In all phosphides, containing the systems of bound atoms of phosphorus, certain or all from these atoms form less than three bonds P-P. The formation of one bond P-P by every atom leads to group P2 found as P24- ion in diphosphides of transition metals with the structure of the pyrite or marcasite type (RuP2). LaP, SmP, ThP, UP, ZrP form structural type NaCl