Zirconium diphosphide

Zirconium diphosphide is a binary inorganic compound of zirconium metal and phosphorus with the chemical formula ZrP₂.^[1]

Zirconium diphosphide

Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
InChI InChI=1S/2P.Zr Key: KOYGUUORAMWMAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [P].[P].[Zr]
Properties
Chemical formula	P2Zr
Molar mass	153.172 g·mol−1
Appearance	grey crystals
Solubility in water	insoluble
Related compounds
Related compounds	Zirconium monophosphide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation

Zirconium diphosphide can be obtained from arc-melting of zirconium with red phosphorus:^[2]

2 Zr + P₄ → 2 ZrP₂

Physical properties

Zirconium diphosphide forms grey crystals that is insoluble in water. Zirconium diphosphide is very toxic.^[3] Has a lead(II) chloride crystal structure.^[4][2][5] It dissolves in warm concentrated sulfuric acid. It decomposes into phosphorus and ZrP when heated in vacuum:^[6]

ZrP₂ → ZrP + P