Fire and Heat 61 



By what means did the early settlers in America kindle fires? 

 Explain the action of a flintlock gun or pistol in discharging the load. 

 Gas lighters of materials similar to flint and steel are in use in certain 

 sections of the country. Friction cigar lighters are common. 



How many kinds of matches do you find in use? In what respects 

 do they differ from one another? Examine closely two or three of 

 the more distinctive kinds. What are the special properties claimed 

 for each? Are some of them described as " safety, strike anywhere, 

 and with no afterglow " ? Are some of them merely " safety " and 

 to be kindled on the box in which they come? You may find what 

 is called the " sulfur " match, which on burning gives off a gas with 

 a disagreeable odor. Is there any marked difference in the way 

 the wooden splints of the several kinds burn? Of what kind of 

 wood are the match splints generally made? What reasons can you 

 give for this? By what process is the match kindled? Can it be 

 kindled by impact, as with a hammer? Are there matches which are 

 proof against this? 



In making matches a wood like white pine is made into splints; 

 these are dipped into paraffin, then into melted sulfur, and when cool 

 into a paste of phosphorus and some such material as lead dioxid, 

 and glue to hold the substances together. Then the heads are dipped 

 into some substance that excludes the air and insures safety. The 

 " safety " match, which is designed to be struck on the box, differs 

 from the ordinary kind by containing in the match head a mixture of 

 sulfur in some form and chlorate of potassium, but no phosphorus. 

 It may be lighted on glass. The prepared surface on the box is made 

 of a mixture of ground glass and red phosphorus, cemented by a glue. 

 When the match is rubbed on this, it takes up a small amount of the 

 phosphorus, which ignites easily, kindling the sulfur and the rest of 

 the match. 



The kindling temperatures of substances. The order in which 

 the several substances are ignited or kindled is important. 

 Phosphorus is kindled at a temperature but little above that 

 usual in a room, that is, it has a very low kindling temperature. 

 It is ignited by even the slight friction caused by drawing it 

 over a smooth surface. Sulfur kindles at a temperature a 

 little higher than that of phosphorus. It is ignited by the 

 burning phosphorus and is made to burn more vigorously by 

 the lead dioxid, called an oxidizing material, contained in the 



