What is produced when phosphorus trichloride reacts with 32% sodium hydroxide? Is phosphine generated?
Thread Content
For the cleaning of phosphorus trichloride reactors, we use water for treatment; we have also seen in literature that sodium hydroxide can be used for this purpose. Could the addition of sodium hydroxide result in the formation of phosphine?
Based on a preliminary analysis of the reaction mechanism, phosphorus trichloride hydrolyzes to yield phosphorous acid and hydrogen chloride; the addition of sodium hydroxide then leads to further reactions that produce sodium phosphite, sodium chloride, and water. It is unlikely that phosphine will be formed