Match facts for kids
A match is a tool for making fire under controlled circumstances. Most often, it is a small piece of wood, or hardened paper. At one end, the match is coated with a material that will ignite from friction. The lighting end of a match is known as the match "head". It either contains phosphorus or phosphorus sesquisulfide as the active ingredient and gelatin as a binder. Matches are sold in multiples, packaged together either in a box, or in matchbooks. There are two main types of matches: safety matches, which can be struck only against a specially prepared surface; and strike-anywhere matches, for which any suitably frictional surface can be used.
There are also electric matches, which use electricity and not friction to produce a fire.
Early matches
Matches that used sulfur were mentioned by Martial in ancient Rome. He called them sulphurata.
Around the year 1530, Matches appeared in Europe. The first modern, self-igniting match was invented in 1805 by K. Chancel, assistant to Professor Louis Jacques Thénard of Paris, though. The head of the match was made of a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, sugar, and rubber. They were ignited by dipping the tip of the match in a small asbestos bottle filled with sulfuric acid. This kind of match was quite expensive and its usage was dangerous, so Chancel's matches never gained much popularity.
Special-purpose matches
Storm matches, also known as lifeboat matches or flare matches, have an easy to strike tip like a normal match, but much of the stick is coated with a combustible compound which will keep burning even in a strong wind. They have a wax coating to make them waterproof. They are a component of many survival kits. This particular match was used in the first mass-produced Molotov cocktails.
"Bengal matches" are actually small hand-held fireworks akin to sparklers. They are similar to storm matches in form, but they include compounds of strontium or barium in the compound on the stick to produce a red or green flame respectively.
Related pages
- A site demonstrating jet propulsion using matches and foil
Images for kids
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The Alchemist in Search of the Philosophers Stone (1771), by Joseph Wright, depicting Hennig Brand discovering phosphorus.
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Sulfur-head matches, 1828, lit by dipping into a bottle of phosphorus
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A tin "Congreves" matchbox (1827), produced by John Walker, inventor of the friction match.
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Packing girls at the Bryant & May factory.
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The London matchgirls strike of 1888 campaigned against the use of white phosphorus in match making, which led to bone disorders such as phossy jaw.
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The New York Times report dated 29 January 1911
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Jönköpings safety match industry 1872.
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Old match factory in Itkonniemi, Kuopio, Finland
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Super Deportistas matches from mid 20th century Mexico, part of the permanent collection of the Museo del Objeto del Objeto, in Mexico City.
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A match at the beginning of the combustion process
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Ignition of a match
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Matches with an intellectual pastime printed
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Special storm matches
See also
In Spanish: Fósforo (utensilio) para niños
