Applications
It is used for making phosphorus oxychloride by oxidising it with oxygen. It is used for production of phosphate ester insecticides. It is used in the production of chlorinated compounds like phosphorous penta chloride, phosphoryl chloride, thiophosphoryl chloride and pseudohalogens.
 
Description
Phosphorus trichloride is a colourless transparent motile liquid. It is the most important phosphorus halide. Phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) is manufactured by burning molten white phosphorus in dry chlorine. An explosion occurs when phosphorus trichloride is brought in contact with nitric or nitrous acid.
 
Preparation
It can be prepared by passing dry chlorine gas over overheated white phosphorus. The vapours of phosphorus trichloride distil over and are collected in receivers cooled by water. It can also be obtained by the reaction of thionyl chloride with the white phosphorus.
 
Chemical Properties
Phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) is a reactive compound, readily hydrolyzing in the presence of moisture to form phosphoric acid and hydrogen chloride.
 
Definition
Phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) is a chemical compound comprising one phosphorus atom bonded to three chlorine atoms, commonly used in organic synthesis and as a reagent in chemical reactions.