A large number of samples of uranium monorphosphide were prepared
by direct reaction between uranium filings and red phosphor us, followed by homogenization in a high temperature furnace (Degussa) at 1200-1300 °c and a pres,sure of 10-4 Torr (1 Torr = 101.325/760 kPa). Samples were analyzed for uranium, phosphorus and nitrogen, assuming that the difference is oxygen. The oxygen content wa.s found to vary from sample to sample, ranging from 0.54 (min.) up to 7.10 wt. O/o (max.). X-ray analysis did not indicate the presence
of U02• The amount of oxygen or nitrogen was not controled in advance, but final results ensured the working hypothesis, since the analytical data were in acordance with the X-ray powder diagrams
