So #phosphine/phosphane/PH3 was found in the atmosphere of Venus and people are speculating whether this implies the existence of microbial life in Venus's atmosphere. What's the chemistry behind this? I'll try to explain in a way that's also understandable for non-chemists 1/13 One Earth, the most common phosphorus (P) compounds contain oxygen, like phosphate, which is present in many minerals and also seawater and fresh water. P compounds without oxygen are pretty reactive in an oxygen atmosphere. 2/13