Yb3P crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmcm space group. There are two inequivalent Yb sites. In the first Yb site, Yb(1) is bonded in a distorted see-saw-like geometry to four equivalent P(1) atoms. In the second Yb site, Yb(2) is bonded in a distorted see-saw-like geometry to four equivalent P(1) atoms. P(1) is bonded to four equivalent Yb(2) and eight equivalent Yb(1) atoms to form a mixture of face and corner-sharing PYb12 cuboctahedra.
Yb3P crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmcm space group. There are two inequivalent Yb sites. In the first Yb site, Yb(1) is bonded in a distorted see-saw-like geometry to four equivalent P(1) atoms. There are two shorter (3.18 Å) and two longer (3.31 Å) Yb(1)-P(1) bond lengths. In the second Yb site, Yb(2) is bonded in a distorted see-saw-like geometry to four equivalent P(1) atoms. There are two shorter (3.17 Å) and two longer (3.32 Å) Yb(2)-P(1) bond lengths. P(1) is bonded to four equivalent Yb(2) and eight equivalent Yb(1) atoms to form a mixture of face and corner-sharing PYb12 cuboctahedra.