aluminium phosphide

Evidently poisonous, aluminium phosphide has been used for suicide.

Aluminium phosphide poisoning is considered a wide-scale problem in the Indian subcontinent.

Aluminium phosphide reacts with water or acids to release phosphine:

It is an alloy of aluminium phosphide and gallium phosphide.

Gopher extermination can also be done by flooding the tunnels with aluminium phosphide, a restricted use pesticide.

As a rodenticide, aluminium phosphide pellets are provided as a mixture with food for consumption by the rodents.

Other pesticides similar to zinc phosphide are aluminium phosphide and calcium phosphide.

Aluminium phosphide (AlP) is made similarly, and hydrolyses to give phosphine:

She allegedly ingested weevil tablet, a pesticide that contains aluminium phosphide and emits phosphine gas.

Aluminium phosphide (AlP)

It can also be made (as described above) by the hydrolysis of a metal phosphide, such as aluminium phosphide or calcium phosphide.

They contain aluminium phosphide and are inserted in the mole tunnels, where they turn into phosphine gas (not be confused with phosgene gas).

Sodium phosphide is also employed commercially as a catalyst in conjunction with zinc phosphide and aluminium phosphide for polymer production.

For farm use, pellets of aluminium phosphide, calcium phosphide, or zinc phosphide release phosphine upon contact with atmospheric water or rodents' stomach acid.

In a 25 year long study on 5,933 unnatural deaths in north-west India, aluminium phosphide poisoning was found to be the major cause of death among all cases of poisonings.

In this application, aluminium phosphide can be encountered under various brand names, e.g. Celphos, Fumitoxin, Phostoxin, Talunex and Quick Phos.

Since 1992, when aluminium phosphide became freely available in the market, it had, reportedly, overtaken all other forms of deliberate poisoning, such as organophosphorus and barbiturate poisoning in North India.

The toxicity of aluminium phosphide is attributed to the liberation of phosphine gas, a cytotoxic compound that causes free radical mediated injury, inhibits vital cellular enzymes and is directly corrosive to tissues.

The major lethal consequence of aluminium phosphide ingestion is profound circulatory collapse, is reportedly secondary to these toxins generated, which lead due to direct effects on cardiomyocytes, fluid loss, and adrenal gland damage.

Aluminium phosphide (AlP), which is readily available as a fumigant for stored cereal grains, sold under various brand names such as QuickPhos and Celphos, is highly toxic, especially when consumed from a freshly opened container.