Definition

A colorless and poisonous gas that can catch fire easily, often used in chemical processes and has a fishy smell.

Example

Phosphine is used in agriculture to fumigate stored grains.

Conversation

Did you hear about the recent discovery of phosphine on Venus?

Yeah, it's pretty fascinating! They say it might indicate life.

I wonder how they can even detect phosphine from so far away.

Right? The technology must be really advanced to pick up on that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phosphine is formed from "phosphorus" (from Greek "phosphoros", meaning light-bringer or morning star) and "-ine" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a class of compounds). The word refers to a chemical compound containing phosphorus, which is known for its role in producing light in certain reactions.

Memory Tip

Think of 'phosphorus' as the 'light-bringer' and remember that 'phosphine' is a compound related to phosphorus, often associated with light-producing reactions.

Visually Confused Words