Zirconium diphosphide can be obtained from arc-melting of zirconium with red phosphorus:[2]
2 Zr + P4 → 2 ZrP2
Physical properties
Zirconium diphosphide forms grey crystals that is insoluble in water. Zirconium diphosphide is very toxic.[3] Has a lead(II) chloride crystal structure.[4][2][5] It dissolves in warm concentrated sulfuric acid. It decomposes into phosphorus and ZrP when heated in vacuum:[6]