The doubt that can set your head on fire: Where is the match: in the box or on the toothpick? We are used to hearing the expression “matchstick”, and it was precisely this to be blamed for the mistaken idea that on the red tip of the wooden cutouts there would be a match.
Know now that the phosphorus element (P) is not present inside the box (sticks) but outside. The surface where we scratch the toothpick looks like sandpaper, on it are present the substances: dextrin, red phosphorus, Sb2s3 (antimony trisulfide) and ground glass. Friction is caused by the presence of glass, which triggers the combustion reaction between the components.
At the tip of the toothpick are the substances alum and K2Cr2O7 (hexavalent chrom), the presence of Chromium is responsible for the red color.
By Líria Alves
Graduated in Chemistry
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Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUZA, Líria Alves de. "Where is the match: in the box or on the toothpick?";
Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/onde-esta-fosforo-na-caixinha-ou-no-palito.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
