Phosphorus monoxide

Phosphorus monoxide
Names
	Other names oxophosphanyl; oxidophosphorus(.); Phosphoryl
Identifiers
CAS Number	14452-66-5;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:29315;
ChemSpider	5256764;
Gmelin Reference	416
PubChem CID	6857426;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID70425882;
	InChI InChI=1S/OP/c1-2 Key: LFGREXWGYUGZLY-UHFFFAOYSA-N;
	SMILES O=[P];
Properties
Chemical formula	PO
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Phosphorus monoxide is an unstable radical inorganic compound with molecular formula P O.

Phosphorus monoxide is notable as one of the few molecular compounds containing phosphorus that has been detected outside of Earth. Other phosphorus containing molecules found in space include PN, PC, PC₂, HCP and PH₃. It was detected in the circumstellar shell of VY Canis Majoris and in the star forming region catalogued as AFGL 5142. The compound has been found to have been initially produced in star-forming regions, and speculated to be carried by interstellar comets throughout outer space, including to the early Earth.

Phosphorus monoxide plays a role in the phosphorescence of phosphorus.