phosphine

Astronomers studying the clouds of Venus announced the discovery of trace amounts of phosphine, which on Earth is belched out by volcanoes and some organisms.

The team used computer models to explore all other mechanisms that might produce phosphine in Venus’s harsh environment and came up empty.

On Earth, phosphine is a chemical produced by some kinds of bacteria that live in oxygen-poor conditions.

If Venus’ spectrum could be drawn as a straight line across all wavelengths of light, phosphine would make a deep valley at that wavelength.

The chances of detecting phosphine on that flyby are still slim, but not zero.

Under the name of “phosphine” this colouring-matter is still used, especially for the dyeing of leather.

Give the formula for the salt which phosphine forms with hydriodic acid.

Absence of change shows phosphine, quinoline yellow, or a natural dye-stuff.

The acetylene prepared from this substance has a very characteristic odor due to impurities, the chief of these being phosphine.

Extremely dangerous explosive mixtures may be made by combining phosphine and air or oxygen.