- Calcium phosphide \( (\text{Ca}_3\text{P}_2) \) reacts with moisture to produce phosphine gas \( \text{PH}_3 \), which ignites spontaneously in air, producing thick white smoke.
\[
\text{Ca}_3\text{P}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 3\text{Ca(OH)}_2 + 2\text{PH}_3
\]
- This property makes it useful in military smoke screens.