Scandium Phosphide Formula

The chemical formula for scandium phosphide is ScP. It indicates that each unit of the compound contains one atom of scandium and one atom of phosphorus, which are chemically bonded together. The atomic weight of scandium is 44.95 g/mol and that of phosphorus is 30.97 g/mol, so the molecular weight of scandium phosphide is 75.92 g/mol.

Scandium phosphide is classified as a binary compound, meaning it is composed of only two elements. It belongs to the wider family of III-V semiconductors, which includes other compounds such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP).

Scandium phosphide has a zincblende crystal structure, which means its atoms are arranged in a cubic lattice with alternating scandium and phosphorus atoms occupying the lattice points. It is a semiconductor material with a bandgap energy of approximately 2.23 eV at room temperature, making it useful for electronic and optical applications.

In terms of its properties, scandium phosphide is a hard, brittle material with a high melting point of around 2000°C. It is insoluble in water but reacts with acids to produce phosphine gas. It is also sensitive to oxidation and should be stored in an inert atmosphere to prevent degradation.