Phosphorus Sulfide

Phosphorus Sulfide

Phosphorus sulfides comprise a family of inorganic compounds containing only phosphorus and sulfur. These compounds have the formula P₄S_x with x ≤ 10. Two are of commercial significance, phosphorus pentasulfide (P₂S₅), which is made on a kiloton scale for the production of other organosulfur compounds, and phosphorus sesquisulfide (P₄S₃), used in the production of "strike anywhere matches".

There are several other phosphorus sulfides in addition to P₄S₃ and P₄S₁₀. Six of these phosphorus sulfides exist as isomers: P₄S₄, P₄S₅, P₄S₆, P₄S₇, P₄S₈, and P₄S₉. These isomers are distinguished by Greek letter prefixes. The prefix is based on the order of the discovery of the isomers, not their structure. All known molecular phosphorus sulfides contain a tetrahedral array of four phosphorus atoms. P₄S₂ is also known but is unstable above −30 °C.