FUELS AND CARBON COMPOUNDS 



265 



piece of flint with steel. This spark was caught on some 

 tinder and carefully fanned into a blaze. 



The friction match, which came into use about 1827, was 

 a very crude invention if compared with the modern 

 safety match, but it was far superior to the flint and steel. 

 The first matches were made of sulphur mixed with a 

 little potassium chlorate and antimony sulphide. This 

 mixture was used to coat the end of a small wooden stick. 

 When the match was rubbed over a rough surface, the 



FIG. 230. An Old-fashioned Fireplace. 



friction produced enough heat to cause the sulphur to 

 unite with the oxygen of the potassium chlorate, and the 

 burning sulphur would ignite the wooden stick. These 

 matches burned with a very bad odor. The match has 

 been much improved in recent years. The safety match 

 is now in quite common use, because it is less dangerous 

 to use and to manufacture. Red phosphorus is used on 

 the safety match instead of the more active yellow phos- 

 phorus and is also placed on the striking surface. The tip 

 of the match contains antimony sulphide and some oxidiz- 

 ing substance, such as potassium chlorate or oxide of lead. 



