Studies on explosive antimony. I—The microscopy of polished surfaces

In 1855 Gore reported the discovery of a peculiar soft and lustrous form of antimony obtained by the electrolysis of antimony trichloride solution. This deposit when heated or scratched underwent a sudden change in which a considerable quantity of heat was developed, the metal was badly shattered, and white fumes of occluded antimony trichloride were evolved. The metal after “explosion” was indistinguishable from ordinary antimony. Different aspects of the phenomenon have since been the subject of several investigations of which the most comprehensive is that carried out by Cohen and his co-workers during the years 1906–05. More recently Cohen and Coffin have succeeded in determining the factors governing the deposition of the explosive form, and Böhm, Steinwehr and Schulze, and Kersten have made X-ray studies of its structure.