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The-Chemistry-of-Matches.pdf
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THE CHEMISTRY OF MATCHES BY NC ND © COMPOUND INTEREST 2014 - WWW.COMPOUNDCHEM.COM | TWITTER: @COMPOUNDCHEM | FACEBOOK: facebook.com/compoundchem Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence. C How Matches Work e Match e Match B The striking surface of safety match boxes contains red phosphorus and an abrasive substance. When struck, a small amount of white phosphorus is produced, which ignites. P S P S S P P KClO 3 The composition of matches varies depending on type, but safety matches are the most commonly used. They contain a strong oxidising agent in the match head, and red phosphorus in the striking surface. Striking the match causes small amounts of the oxidiser and phosphorus to combine, and the heat generated by the friction of the striking causes them to ignite. Prior to the 1900s, white phosphorus was the active ingredient in most matches, but this could cause ‘phossy jaw’ and bone disorders, and was also toxic, so was replaced. POTASSIUM CHLORATE Main ingredient (45-55%) in heads of safety matches. PHOSPHORUS SESQUISULFIDE Component in the heads of ‘strike anywhere’ matches. ANTIMONY (III) SULFIDE Added to some matches to make them burn more vigourously. Sb 2 S 3 P P P P P P P P P P P P Red Phphorus (above); White Phphorus (below) P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P Additionally, the matches contain ammonium phosphates to prevent ‘afterglow’, glue to bind materials, and paraffin wax for ease of burning.
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Transcript of The-Chemistry-of-Matches.pdf
THE CHEMISTRY OF MATCHES
BY NC ND
© COMPOUND INTEREST 2014 - WWW.COMPOUNDCHEM.COM | TWITTER: @COMPOUNDCHEM | FACEBOOK: facebook.com/compoundchemShared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence.C
How Matches Work The Match The Match BoxThe striking surface of safety match boxes contains red phosphorus and an abrasive substance. When struck, a small amount of white phosphorus is produced, which ignites.
P
S
P
S S
P P
KClO3
The composition of matches varies depending on type, but safety matches are the most commonly used. They contain a strong oxidising agent in the match head, and red phosphorus in the striking surface. Striking the match causes small amounts of the oxidiser and phosphorus to combine, and the heat generated by the friction of the striking causes them to ignite.
Prior to the 1900s, white phosphorus was the active ingredient in most matches, but this could cause ‘phossy jaw’ and bone disorders, and was also toxic, so was replaced.
POTASSIUM CHLORATEMain ingredient (45-55%) in heads of safety matches.
PHOSPHORUS SESQUISULFIDEComponent in the heads of ‘strike anywhere’ matches.
ANTIMONY (III) SULFIDEAdded to some matches to make them burn more vigourously.
Sb2S3
PP
P
P
PP
P
P
PP
P
P
Red Phosphorus (above); White Phosphorus (below)
PP
P
P
PP
P
P
PP
P
P
PP
P
PAdditionally, the matches contain ammonium phosphates to prevent ‘afterglow’, glue to bind materials, and paraffin wax for ease of burning.
