Pyrophoric: liable to ignite spontaneously when exposed to air. You know, like.. Charlie Sheen.
While a pyrophoric chemical might ignite, a pyrophoric alloy will produce sparks when struck. Lighter flints, for example, are pyrophoric. The flintlock mechanism in old firearms used pyrophoric metals.
From Greek πυροφόρος (purophóros), meaning, fire-bearing. This word derives from two Greek words. Πῦρ (pûr), fire and φέρω (phérō) meaning, I carry.
