Before revision: Synthesis Ytterbium and phosphine reacts in liquid ammonia to form Yb(PH2)2·5NH3, which can be decomposed to obtain ytterbium phosphide: Yb(PH2)2•5NH3 → Yb(PH2)2 + 5NH3 2Yb(PH2)2 → YbP + 2PH3 + H2 Physical properties Ytterbium phosphide decomposes at or above 550 °C: 3YbP → Yb3P2 + P It is soluble in hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia.
After revision: Synthesis Ytterbium and phosphine reacts in liquid ammonia to form Yb(PH2)2·5NH3, which can be decomposed to obtain ytterbium phosphide: Yb(PH2)2•5NH3 → Yb(PH2)2 + 5NH3 2Yb(PH2)2 → YbP + 2PH3 + H2 Physical properties Ytterbium phosphide decomposes at or above 550 °C: 12 YbP → Yb3P442 + P It is soluble in hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia.