Phosphides 924 phosphinic acid phosphites

Phosphine can be made by the action of water or dilute acids on certain metal phosphides (4.130). Industrially, it is usually made by the action of steam on the element (red) at 280°C (the acid process) (4.131) or by the alternative alkaline process that involves the hydrolysis of white phosphorus (4.131a) but is not favoured since unwanted hydrogen is obtained. Both processes involve competing side reactions and there is some disagreement in the literature. The gas may also be made by the action of caustic potash on phosphonium iodide (4.132), or by heating dry phosphorous acid (4.133) or phosphites (5.214). 

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