Conceived during his concert tour in America in 1906, this sonata was rapidly completed in Lausanne, Switzerland, in December of the following year, shortly after the completion of the orchestral work The Poem of Ecstasy.

The single-movement structure of this sonata was adopted in all subsequent sonatas and orchestral works. Although it begins in Scriabin's favored F-sharp major (Fis dur), it modulates freely, unlike traditional sonata form, and the concluding section is written in E-flat major (Es dur).

In the introduction, following the opening soaring passage, a floating harmony with weakened functional harmony dominates, expressing a musical idea of "languor." The exposition (from measure 47) begins with a light and vibrant first theme. The "imperious imperioso" second theme, appearing at measure 96, features characteristic descending leaps but soon (at measure 114) transforms into a majestic ascending figure. The sweet theme of the transition (third theme, measures 120-127) and the abruptly appearing motive (measures 140-141) will later play crucial roles in building the climax.

In the development section (measures 157-328), various motives from the introduction, first theme, and second theme are combined, gradually taking on a soaring character. Through a sweet musical idea centered on the third theme in the meno vivo section, it leads to a passionate state of ecstasy where the second and third themes are sung loftily.

In the coda (from measure 401) following the recapitulation, dizzyingly enthusiastic musical ideas are generated. After the second theme (ascending figure) and the introductory theme are passionately played, building a brilliant climax, the piece concludes with a prestissimo soaring passage.