This method of making phosphine is used for manufacture in its laboratory. To make this gas in the laboratory, in a round bottomed flask, a few pieces of white phosphorus and a mixture of sodium hydroxide of about 40% concentrations are first heated slowly and then rapidly.
This device is air tight and the cork on the mouth of the flask has two tubes. One of these flows coal gas through the tube, displacing the air in the flask. Oxygen of air can lead to unnecessary charges from reactants and products.