The oxidation of phosphine studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

Abstract

Mixtures of phosphine and oxygen at pressures both above the upper explosion limit and below the lower limit have been flashed, and the variation with time of the spectra of PH 2 , PH, OH and PO ( β and γ systems) studied. The absorption spectrum of the β bands of PO indicates that only one transition ( 2 Π — 2 Π ) is involved, as proposed by Dressier (1955). A revision of the mechanism for the oxidation of phosphine is proposed, involving OH and PH 2 radicals as carriers of the straight chain and O atoms only in branching and termination steps. The mechanism is Compared with the experimental results of Melville & Roxburgh (1934).