6 Mg + P4 → 2 Mg3P2

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

4 P0 + 12 e- → 4 P-III (reduction)

6 Mg0 - 12 e- → 6 MgII (oxidation)

P4 is an oxidizing agent, Mg is a reducing agent.

Reactants:

  • Mg
    • Names: Magnesium source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Magnesium (powder) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Magnesium (pellets) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Grey powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Silvery-white metallic solid in various forms source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • P4

Products:

  • Mg3P2
    • Names: Magnesium phosphide source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Trimagnesium diphosphide source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Yellow-to-green crystals source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04