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Calcium phosphide
 
 
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Calcium phosphide (CP, Ca3P2) is a chemical that has uses in incendiary bombs. It has the appearance of red-brown crystalline powder or grey lumps, with melting point of 1600 °C. Its trade name is Photophor for the incendiary use or Polythanol for the use as rodenticide. Its CAS number is .

On contact with acids or water, calcium
Calcium

Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the earth's Crust ....
 phosphide
Phosphide

In chemistry, a phosphide is a compound of phosphorus with a less electronegativity element or elements. Binary compounds are formed with the majority of less electronegative elements with the exception of mercury , lead, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, polonium....
 releases phosphine
Phosphine

Phosphine is the common name for phosphorus trihydride , also known by the IUPAC name phosphane and, occasionally, phosphamine....
, which ignites spontaneously.

Metal phosphides have been used as rodenticides.






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Calcium phosphide (CP, Ca3P2) is a chemical that has uses in incendiary bombs. It has the appearance of red-brown crystalline powder or grey lumps, with melting point of 1600 °C. Its trade name is Photophor for the incendiary use or Polythanol for the use as rodenticide. Its CAS number is .

On contact with acids or water, calcium
Calcium

Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the earth's Crust ....
 phosphide
Phosphide

In chemistry, a phosphide is a compound of phosphorus with a less electronegativity element or elements. Binary compounds are formed with the majority of less electronegative elements with the exception of mercury , lead, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, polonium....
 releases phosphine
Phosphine

Phosphine is the common name for phosphorus trihydride , also known by the IUPAC name phosphane and, occasionally, phosphamine....
, which ignites spontaneously.

Metal phosphides have been used as rodenticides. A mixture of food and calcium phosphide is left where the rodents can eat it. The acid in the digestive system of the rodent reacts with the phosphide to generate the toxic phosphine gas. This method of vermin control has possible use in places where rodents immune to many of the common poisons have appeared. Other pesticides similar to calcium phosphide are zinc phosphide
Zinc phosphide

Zinc phosphide is an inorganic chemical compound.Metal phosphides have been used as rodenticides. A mixture of food and zinc phosphide is left where the rodents can eat it....
 and aluminium phosphide
Aluminium phosphide

Aluminium phosphide is the chemical compound with the chemical formula AlP. This colourless solid is generally sold as a grey-green-yellow powder due to the presence of impurities arising hydrolysis and oxidation....
.

Calcium phosphide is also used in fireworks
Fireworks

A firework is classified as a low explosive material pyrotechnics device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display....
, torpedo
Torpedo

Note: Prior to 1900, in naval usage "torpedo" could also refer to what today is called a naval mine. For that usage, see naval mine.The modern torpedo is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapon, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater toward a target, and designed to detonate on contact or in proximity t...
es, self-igniting naval pyrotechnic flares, and various water-activated ammunition.

During 1920's and 1930's, Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith

Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith Military Cross, Air Force Cross , often called Charles Kingsford Smith, or by his nickname Smithy, was a well-known early Australian aviator....
 used separate buoyant canisters of calcium carbide
Calcium carbide

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CalciumCarbide. The material is colorless, but most samples appear black through to grayish white lumps, depending on the grade....
 and calcium phosphide as naval flares lasting up to ten minutes.

It is speculated that calcium phosphide was an ingredient of some ancient Greek fire
Greek fire

Greek fire was a primitive incendiary device weapon used by the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines typically used it in naval battles to great effect as it could continue burning even on water....
 formulas.

Its safety and risk phrases are.

Calcium phosphide is a common impurity in calcium carbide
Calcium carbide

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CalciumCarbide. The material is colorless, but most samples appear black through to grayish white lumps, depending on the grade....
, which may cause the resulting phosphine-contaminated acetylene to ignite spontaneously.