Explosive antimony is an allotrope of the

chemical element A chemical element is a species of atoms that have a given number of protons in their nuclei, including the pure substance consisting only of that species. Unlike chemical compounds, chemical elements cannot be broken down into simpler sub ...

antimony Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb (from la, stibium) and atomic number 51. A lustrous gray metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite (Sb2S3). Antimony compounds have been known since ancient t ...

that is so sensitive to shock that it explodes when scratched or subjected to sudden heating. The allotrope was first described in 1855. Chemists form the allotrope through electrolysis of a concentrated solution of

antimony trichloride Antimony trichloride is the chemical compound with the formula SbCl3. It is a soft colorless solid with a pungent odor and was known to alchemists as butter of antimony. Preparation Antimony trichloride is prepared by reaction of chlorine with an ...

hydrochloric acid Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungent smell. It is classified as a strong acid Acid strength is the tendency of an acid, symbol ...

, which forms an amorphous glass. This glass contains significant amounts of halogen impurity at its boundaries. When it explodes the allotrope releases of energy per gram. White fumes of antimony trichloride are produced and the elemental antimony reverts to its metallic form.

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite news , url = http://www.periodictable.ch/051Sb/exSb.pdf , title = Studies on Explosive Antimony. II. Its Structure, Electrical Conductivity, and Rate of Crystallization , publisher =

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ''Proceedings of the Royal Society'' is the main research journal of the Royal Society. The journal began in 1831 and was split into two series in 1905: * Series A: for papers in physical sciences and mathematics. * Series B: for papers in life s ...

, author = C.C. Coffin , date = 1935-10-15 , pages = 47–63 , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , url-status = live {{cite journal , title = On the explosive semiconductor-semimetal transition of antimony , publisher =

Physica Status Solidi ''Physica Status Solidi'', often stylized ''physica status solidi'' or ''pss'', is a family of international peer-reviewed, scientific journals, publishing research on all aspects of solid state physics, and materials science. It is owned and p ...

, author = F. M. Aymerich, A. Delunas , journal = Physica Status Solidi (A) , date = 1975-09-16 , volume = 31 , pages = 165–170 , location = , isbn = , quote = The energy released by this transition, is measured to be 24 cal per gram of amorphous Sb and is shown to be related to a variation of the mass density and of the conductivity behaviour of Sb going from one configuration to the other. A simple theoretical model is outlined which quite satisfactory gives the gross features of the free-energy diagram of the above transition, although more deep investigation is needed to account for the energy balance of it. , doi = 10.1002/pssa.2210310118 {{cite news , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_iQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA31 , title = Suspended changes in Nature , publisher = Popular Science , author = James H. Walton Jr. , date = July 1913 , page = 31 , location = , isbn = , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , quote = We are indebted to the investigations of Professor Cohen for a more striking example of a metastable metal, that of the " explosive " antimony. By passing an electric current through a solution of antimony chloride this metal may be deposited in the form of a thick metallic coating. {{cite news , jstor = 2935608 , title = Studies on Explosive Antimony. I. The Microscopy of Polished Surfaces , publisher =

, author = C.C. Coffin, Stuart Johnston , date = 1934-10-01 , page = , location = , isbn = , quote = {{cite book , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vKBqqiCTB7MC&dq=%22Explosive+antimony%22&pg=PA224 , title = Chemical Risk Analysis: A Practical Handbook , publisher =

Butterworth-Heinemann Butterworth–Heinemann is a British publishing company specialised in professional information and learning materials for higher education and professional training, in printed and electronic forms. It was formed in 1990 by the merger of Hein ...

, author = Bernard Martel , date = 2004 , page = , isbn = 9780080529042 , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , quote = {{cite book , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=g8P-NwAACAAJ&q=%22Explosive+antimony%22 , title = Studies on Explosive Antimony and Antimony Tetrachloride Solutions , publisher = Dalhousie University , author = Allan C. Topp , date = 1939 , page = , isbn = , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , quote = {{cite book , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vVhpurkfeN4C&dq=%22Explosive+antimony%22&pg=PA50 , title = Chemistry of Arsenic, Antimony and Bismuth , publisher =

Springer Science & Business Media Springer Science+Business Media, commonly known as Springer, is a German multinational publishing company of books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals in science, humanities, technical and medical (STM) publishing. Originally founded in 1842 ...

, author = N.C. Norman , date = 1997 , page = 50 , isbn = 9780751403893 , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , quote = Another possible allotrope, known as explosive antimony, has been reported which is produced by electrolysis of antimony chloride, iodide or bromide and is believed to be in a strained amorphous state. {{cite book , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Mtth5g59dEIC&dq=%22Explosive+antimony%22&pg=PA758 , title = Inorganic Chemistry , publisher =

Academic Press Academic Press (AP) is an academic book publisher founded in 1941. It was acquired by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1969. Reed Elsevier bought Harcourt in 2000, and Academic Press is now an imprint of Elsevier. Academic Press publishes referen ...

, author = Egon Wiberg, Nils Wiberg , date = 2001 , page = 758 , isbn = 9780123526519 , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , quote = {{cite book , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=R0rmCAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Explosive+antimony%22&pg=PA406 , title = Semiconductors: Data Handbook , publisher =

, author = Otfried Madelung , date = 2012 , page = 408 , isbn = 9783642188657 , accessdate = 2016-11-21 , quote = Explosive Antimony is only metastable and transforms into metallic antimony during mechanical stress and heating. Explosive Antimony is probably not an allotropic form, but a mixed polymer. Antimony

Antimony Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb (from la, stibium) and atomic number 51. A lustrous gray metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite (Sb2S3). Antimony compounds have been known since ancient t ...

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