Lanthanum phosphide is an inorganic compound of lanthanum and phosphorus with the chemical formula LaP.
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Other names
Phosphanylidynelanthanum
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Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol)
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.042.515 |
EC Number |
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PubChem CID
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Properties | |
LaP | |
Molar mass | 169.88 |
Appearance | Black crystals |
Density | 5.2 g/cm3 |
Reacts with water | |
Structure[1] | |
Rock salt structure | |
Fm3m | |
a = 0.6025 nm
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Formula units (Z)
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4 |
Octahedral at La3+, Octahedral at P3- | |
Related compounds | |
Other anions
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Lanthanum nitride Lanthanum arsenide Lanthanum bismuthide |
Other cations
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Scandium phosphide Yttrium phosphide Cerium phosphide |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references
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Lanthanum phosphide can be made by heating lanthanum metal with excess phosphorus in a vacuum:[2]
Lanthanum phosphide forms black crystals of a cubic system, space group Fm3m, cell parameters a = 0.6025 nm, with number of formulas per unit cell Z = 4.[1]
The crystals are very unstable and decompose in the open air.
Lanthanum phosphide is an example of a strongly correlated material,[3] complicating theoretical prediction of its properties.
According to HSE06 calculations, lanthanum phosphide has been theoretically predicted to have an indirect band gap of 0.25 eV along the Γ-X direction.[4] According to HSE06 calculations with spin-orbit coupling, the band gap is predicted to be a direct gap of 0.72 eV at the X point.[5] Using EVGGA, the compound is predicted to have a band gap of 0.56 eV along the Γ-X direction.[6] FP-LAPW has predicted an indirect gap of 0.33 eV along the Γ-X direction.[3]
Lanthanum phosphide reacts with water, releasing highly toxic phosphine gas:
Lanthanum phosphide compound is a semiconductor used in high power, high frequency applications, and in laser diodes.[7][8]
In addition to the simple phosphide, LaP, lanthanum and phosphorus can also form phosphorus-rich compounds such as LaP2[9] LaP5[10] and LaP7.[11]