Sulmon

Sulmon is a name used in speculative chemistry and fiction to denote a sulfur-rich compound or mineral. There is no single, formally recognized definition of sulmon in established scientific literature. As a result, depictions of sulmon vary by author and context, though most treatments agree that it involves substantial sulfur-sulfur bonding and notable stability.

Typical fictional descriptions portray sulmon as a dense, dark crystalline material with high melting point, layered structure, and conductive properties that may range from insulating to semi-metallic depending on impurities. Some versions emphasize catalytic activity, particularly in sulfur-sulfur bond rearrangements.

In setting-based explanations, sulmon is said to form in extreme environments such as deep volcanic systems or hydrothermal vents, or to be synthesized under high-pressure laboratory conditions. There is no consensus on its exact chemical formula or crystal system in real-world science.

Proposed applications in fiction include energy storage, propulsion, and advanced catalysis, while real-world researchers might liken sulmon to sulfur-rich polymers or sulfide minerals but lack a standard definition for the term.

Etymology: the name likely derives from sulfur as a root and the -mon suffix, a convention used in some speculative works. The term is largely confined to non-scholarly literature and fandom contexts, and readers should distinguish it from established sulfur chemistry.