Phosphorus Triselenide, P₂Se₃

Phosphorus Triselenide or Phosphorous Selenide, P₂Se₃, may be obtained by heating together phosphorus and selenium in the requisite atomic proportions. The reaction is accompanied by a great evolution of heat. The product is a ruby-red solid, which is combustible on heating. It is insoluble in carbon disulphide. With metal selenides it forms double selenides of the type P₂Se₃.2MSe.