(inorganic chemistry, uncountable) A toxic gas, chemical formula PH₃.
Used in a Sentence
phosphine
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for phosphine.
Editorial note
On Earth, phosphine is only present due to life, and so phosphine has been explored extensively as a potential sign of life.
Examples18
Definitions3
Parts of speech1
Quick take
(inorganic chemistry, uncountable) A toxic gas, chemical formula PH₃.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of phosphine gathered in one view.
(organic chemistry, countable) Any alkyl or aryl derivative of this compound, PR₃ (where at least one R is not H),
(dyeing) Chrysaniline, often in the form of a salt.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for phosphine.
noun
(inorganic chemistry, uncountable) A toxic gas, chemical formula PH₃.
noun
(organic chemistry, countable) Any alkyl or aryl derivative of this compound, PR₃ (where at least one R is not H),
noun
(dyeing) Chrysaniline, often in the form of a salt.
Example sentences
On Earth, phosphine is only present due to life, and so phosphine has been explored extensively as a potential sign of life.
Their method of producing fire was to digest phosphine rich rocks in a dedicated stomach and then emit phosphine gas which would spontaneously combust when expelled and mixed with air.
We know, for instance, that gas giants are capable of producing phosphine, even though that doesn't happen on Earth.
But with powerful telescopes, they have detected a chemical — phosphine — in the thick Venus atmosphere.
Semiconductor Fabrication (7nm/5nm) The main processor requires ultra-clean rooms, toxic gases (arsine, phosphine), and chemical etching.
This article makes it sound like phosphine is definitely present in the atmosphere of Venus, but has this been confirmed?
We had a false alarm about Venusian phosphine (as the article mentions) a few years back.
For instance, there was some excitement a few years back when there was a tentative observation of phosphine in Venus's atmosphere.
Researchers tracked the phosphine signature over time and found it could only be detected at night, as it was destroyed by sunlight.
There's vanishingly little possibility of life on Venus; they're fishing for research funds in leu of proposing kinetic mechanisms for the phosphine.
I guess phosphine is easy to mistake for SO2, which, well, Venus has a lot of SO2.
I could have sworn that sickly sweet smell was the smell of various phosphine reagents?
Quote examples
“Our findings suggest that when the atmosphere is bathed in sunlight the phosphine is destroyed,” Clements said.
Like that Venus phosphine gas story, "the only synthesis route we know is biological, thus it's presence must mean life if there"
Indeed, “If they really confirm phosphine and ammonia robustly it raises the chances of biological origin.
Later in the same article On such worlds, “as far as we can tell, only life can make phosphine,” Dr.
Proper noun examples
Phosphine is found in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, and no one is proposing life exists in the clouds of these planets.
Phosphine gas on Venus: I think it was debunked.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use phosphine in a sentence?
On Earth, phosphine is only present due to life, and so phosphine has been explored extensively as a potential sign of life.
What does phosphine mean?
(inorganic chemistry, uncountable) A toxic gas, chemical formula PH₃.
What part of speech is phosphine?
phosphine is commonly used as noun.