Question

What are the Properties of Phosphine?

Answer

The main properties of phosphine are as follow: (i) It is a colourless gas having a rotten fish smell. (ii) It is weakly basic like ammonia, gives phosphonium compounds with acids. (iii) PH3 is sparingly soluble in water and soluble in organic solvents. (iv) PH3 acts as a Lewis base by donating its lone pair of electrons when it reacts with hydrogen iodide.