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Match Head Reaction

Summary

Pea sized portions of potassium chlorate and red phosphorus are reacted
together by striking with a hammer. Smoke, a loud bang and a flash are
observed.

Hazards

 The mixture of potassium chlorate and red phosphorous is shock

sensitive!!
 DO NOT STIR THE DRY POWDERS TOGETHER.
 DO NOT USE MORE THAN PRESCRIBED PEA SIZED AMOUNTS.
 KClO₃ is a strong oxidizer. Do not grind the KClO₃.
 Red phosphorus is highly toxic and flammable.
Chemicals and Solutions

 Red phosphorus (about the size of a match head)

 Potassium chlorate, KClO₃ (same size as in #1)

Materials

 Transite board
 Spatula
 Hammer

Procedure

1. Using spatula place a small amount of red phosphorus onto the transite
board.
2. Using a clean spatula, carefully place a small amount of potassium
chlorate onto the red phosphorus, so that the two match sized piles are
touching.
3. THIS MIXTURE IS SHOCK SENSITIVE. DO NOT STIR THE DRY
POWDERS TOGETHER.
4. Strike with hammer. A sharp fire cracker like noise, sparks (flaming bits
of phosphorus) and smoke are produced.

Hint: Don’t wear your favorite shirt for this demo. Lab coat and goggles are
recommended.

Discussion
3P4(s)+10KClO3⟶3P4O10(s)+10KCl(s)3PX4X(s)
+10KClOX3⟶3PX4OX10X(s)+10KClX(s)
P4         ΔG=−12.1kJ/molPX4         ΔG=−12.1kJ/mol
P4O10   ΔG=−2697.7kJ/molPX4OX10   ΔG=−2697.7kJ/mol
KClO3  ΔG=−296.25kJ/molKClOX3  ΔG=−296.25kJ/mol
KCl       ΔG=−408.77kJ/molKCl       ΔG=−408.77kJ/mol
Total     ΔG=−9182kJ/molTotal     ΔG=−9182kJ/mol

The head of "strike anywhere" matches contain an oxidizing agent such as

potassium chlorate together with tetraphosphorus trisulfide, P₄S₃, glass and
binder. The phosphorus sulfide is easily ignited, the potassium chlorate
decomposes to give oxygen, which in turn causes the phosphorus sulfide to burn
more vigorously.

The head of safety matches are made of an oxidizing agent such as potassium
chlorate, mixed with sulfur, fillers and glass powder. The side of the box
contains red phosphorus, binder and powdered glass. The heat generated by
friction when the match is struck causes a minute amount of red phosphorus to
be converted to white phosphorus, which ignites spontaneously in air. This sets
off the decomposition of potassium chlorate to give oxygen and potassium
chloride. The sulfur catches fire and ignites the wood.
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PRODUCTION AND RAW MATERIALS

Each candle consists of one or more wicks and a solid fuel - the wax. The word
wax is a collective term for various raw materials. Candle wax can be mineral,
animal or vegetable. The most common raw materials used in candle production
today are paraffin, beeswax and stearin. They are all components of nature and
are processed by means of elaborate processes in such a way that they offer the
required properties.
 
THE DIFFERENT RAW MATERIALS OF CANDLE PRODUCTION
Paraffin, beeswax and stearin can be used both in pure form and in mixtures for
candles. The price and availability of the raw materials, their processability on
the existing candle making machines and later product properties (e.g. during
combustion) ultimately determine the use of the raw materials in modern candle
production. Due to its good processing properties and availability, paraffin is by
far used most often in candle production.
Environmental compatibility and the processing of renewable raw materials are
also becoming increasingly important in the production of candles. Among
other things, vegetable or animal fats are increasingly being used for candle
production.
In high-quality candles, naturally occurring pollutants are kept so low that they
pose no danger to people or the environment. The purity of the raw materials
and products is constantly checked with the help of the most modern analytical
procedures. The decisive factor for consumer safety is therefore not which raw
material was used, but the quality of this raw material.
 
PARAFFIN
Paraffin wax is a complex mixture of (at room temperature) solid hydrocarbons
of waxy consistency. The paraffins used for candle production are mainly
extracted from the fossil raw material crude oil. Paraffin wax is a by-product of
oil refining. With the help of complex downstream process steps - filtration, de-
oiling, hydro-refining - the processing to high-purity paraffins takes place.
These refined paraffins are subject to constant quality control and are harmless
from a toxicological point of view. Paraffin is also used, for example, in the
food industry and for cosmetic products. Pure paraffin is biodegradable.
 
The solidification points of paraffins commonly used for candle production are
between 45°C and 70°C. Other important differentiating criteria are hardness,
oil content and viscosity. Due to their chemical-physical properties, paraffins
are suitable for all candle production processes. Through close cooperation
between Balthasar and the paraffin producers, the right paraffin can be used in
candle production, depending on the end product.
 
 
BEESWAX
Beeswax - the oldest raw material for candles, is a metabolic product of the
honeybee. The wax is excreted on the belly side of the building bees and used to
build honeycombs. The beeswax gets its colour and pleasant smell over time
through contact with honey and pollen. Its colour varies from yellow to light
and dark green to red yellow and dark brown. It has a blunt, fine-grained
fracture, easy kneadability, great plasticity and is clearly sticky when heated.
Naturally, this raw material is only available to a limited extent.
Natural beeswax contains a number of impurities that are removed by various
cleaning processes. It is often then bleached with bleaching earth or hydrogen
peroxide. However, because the colour and odour are also lost as a result, high-
purity beeswax is sometimes subsequently used again for consumer reasons as
an admixture for wax mixtures and because of its suppleness for the production
of wax plates, such as those used for candle decorations, e.g. flowers, ribbons
and Ornaments.
 
STEARIN
Stearin (Greek stear - tallow) is a solid, crystalline mixture of various fatty
acids, which essentially consists of palmitic and stearic acid. Although it has
wax-like properties, it is usually not assigned to the waxes. 
The starting materials for the production of stearin are animal or vegetable fats
and oils. Palm oil is the primary vegetable raw material. The animal raw
materials are mainly beef and pork oil, rarely fish oil or fish fat. Today, candle
manufacturers mainly use vegetable Stearins.
The solidification point of stearin is in the range of 52°C to 60°C. A special
feature of stearins is that the softening and melting points are almost identical
(for paraffins both points are about 15°C apart). One of the reasons for this is
the very