C3 Triphenylphosphine

Build triphenylphosphine, PPh₃, with the Indigo® 68821W molecular model kit to demonstrate C3 point group symmetry, propeller geometry, and chiral rotation. Ideal for undergraduate inorganic chemistry and graduate-level organometallic courses.

The Indigo® 68821W molecular model kit builds triphenylphosphine, PPh?, a tertiary phosphine in which three phenyl groups replace the hydrogens of phosphane around a central phosphorus atom. The completed model displays the trigonal-pyramidal shape and twisted propeller geometry characteristic of the C3 point group, making it straightforward for students to visualize why PPh? is chiral despite its apparent symmetry. Unlike the related C3h examples buildable with this kit, triphenylphosphine possesses only a C3 rotation axis with no horizontal mirror plane, placing it firmly in the chiral C3 point group.

Triphenylphosphine's molecular formula can be shown in two ways: C₁₈H₁₅P or (C₆H₅)₃P.