Editing Arsine (section)

==Discovery and synthesis==
AsH<sub>3</sub> is generally prepared by the reaction of As<sup>3+</sup> sources with H<sup>−</sup> equivalents.<ref name="Bellama">{{cite journal|last1=Bellama |first1=J. M. |last2=MacDiarmid |first2=A. G. |title=Synthesis of the Hydrides of Germanium, Phosphorus, Arsenic, and Antimony by the Solid-Phase Reaction of the Corresponding Oxide with Lithium Aluminum Hydride|journal=Inorganic Chemistry|date=1968|volume= 7 |pages= 2070–2|doi=10.1021/ic50068a024|issue=10}}</ref>
::4 AsCl<sub>3</sub> + 3 NaBH<sub>4</sub> → 4 AsH<sub>3</sub> + 3 NaCl + 3 BCl<sub>3</sub>
As reported in 1775, [[Carl Scheele]] reduced [[arsenic(III) oxide]] with zinc in the presence of acid.<ref>Scheele, Carl Wilhelm (1775) [http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015039452928;view=1up;seq=293 "Om Arsenik och dess syra"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105084518/http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015039452928;view=1up;seq=293 |date=2016-01-05 }} (On arsenic and its acid), ''Kongliga Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar'' (Proceedings of the Royal Scientific Academy [of Sweden]), '''36''': 263-294. From p. 290: ''"Med Zinck. 30. (a) Denna år den endaste af alla så hela som halfva Metaller, som i digestion met Arsenik-syra effervescerar."'' (With zinc. 30. (a) This is the only [metal] of all whole- as well as semi-metals that effervesces on digestion with arsenic acid.) Scheele collected the arsine and put a mixture of arsine and air into a cylinder. From p. 291: ''"3:0, Då et tåndt ljus kom når o̊pningen, tåndes luften i kolfven med en småll, lågan for mot handen, denna blef o̊fvedragen med brun fårg, ... "'' (3:0, Then as [the] lit candle came near the opening [of the cylinder], the gases in [the] cylinder ignited with a bang; [the] flame [rushed] towards my hand, which became coated with [a] brown color, ... )</ref> This reaction is a prelude to the [[Marsh test]].

Alternatively, sources of As<sup>3−</sup> react with protonic reagents to also produce this gas. Zinc arsenide and [[sodium arsenide]] are suitable precursors:<ref>"Arsine" in ''Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry'', 2nd ed., G. Brauer (ed.), Academic Press, 1963, NY, Vol. 1. p. 493.</ref>
::Zn<sub>3</sub>As<sub>2</sub> + 6 H<sup>+</sup> → 2 AsH<sub>3</sub> + 3 Zn<sup>2+</sup>
::Na<sub>3</sub>As + 3 HBr → AsH<sub>3</sub> + 3 NaBr