P4S3 is best known as Phosphorus sesquisulfide, a compound most notably used in the production of safety matches. It is also sometimes referred to as tetra-phosphorus trisulfide.
As the chemical name suggests, a Phosphorus sesquisulfide molecule is comprised of four phosphorus atoms and three atoms of sulphur, hence P4S3.
What Does 'Sesquisulfide' Mean?
Although the "Phosphorus" part of P4S3's name is pretty self-explanatory, the second half of its name is a little more complex...
The word 'sesquisulfide' actually refers to the chemical breakdown... 'sesqui' is from the Latin meaning 'one and a half times'.
Roughly speaking, there is one and a half times the amount of phosphorous in P4S3 than there is sulphur.
This film shows you more about the production of safety matches, which features P4S3 as part of the process.
