Because of its extremely low kindling point, phosphorus
is used in the manufacture of matches. The ordinary
match is a splint of wood, one end of which is dipped
in melted sulphur and then tipped with a paste of phos-
phorus, potassium nitrate, or potassium chlorate and glue.
Coloring matter may be added to the paste. If potassium
chlorate is the oxidizing agent, the match snaps and burns
vigorously when friction is applied. This union of the
phosphorus with the oxygen, which is loosely held by
the oxidizing agent, produces enough heat to ignite the
sulphur. The heated sulphur unites with the oxygen of the
48 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
air, forming sulphur dioxid, odor of burning' sulphur match.
The burning of the sulphur in turn ignites the wood.
Safety matches do not contain phosphorus, but in place
of it antimony sulphid is used. The ignition is produced by
scratching upon a special surface coated with red phospho-
rus and sand.
The ignition of the match gives a fair illustration of the
steps in the production of all flame from fuels; namely,
a product rich in hydrogen and carbon, a fair amount
of oxygen, and a temperature sufficiently high to cause
separation of the hydrogen and carbon compounds into
their elements, and a reunion with oxygen to form the
simple compounds water and carbon dioxid.
In historical and comparatively recent times the produc-
tion of igneous combustion was a serious problem, as heat
sufficient to ignite even the most finely divided fuel, as
tinder, could be provided only by striking steel against flint
or pyrite, or even rubbing two sticks together vigorously.
Now the problem is much simplified, as the friction on
the match causing it to ignite furnishes heat enough to
ignite paper or finely divided wood or shavings.
Gas, oil, or semisolids are largely composed of hydro-
carbons, which when heated to their kindling point unite
with the oxygen of the air forming water and carbon dioxid.
If the stipply of oxygen is not adequate, the elements form
free hydrogen, marsh gas (CH4), and carbon monoxid, be-
sides, leaving some carbon in a glowing state. This glowing
carbon is what gives the yellow color and furnishes light
in the candle and in the carbon flame. The heat generated
by the burning wick in the candle melts the fat (paraffin or
stearin), and this liquid being drawn up through the fibres in
the wick is slowly changed from liquid to gaseous state, and
as the gases expand they pass to the outer portion of the
flame, there mingling with the air and being heated to igni-
THE KITCHEN 49
tion point unite with the oxygen to form carbon dioxid and
water. In the second cone the proportion of oxygen being
small part of the carbon, though heated to the gloAving stage,
does not form a chemical union till it reaches the outer cone.
The light is due to incandescent carbon particles.
Page 27
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Because of its extremely low kindling point, phosphorus is used in the manufacture of matches. The ordinary match is a splint of wood, one end of which is dipped in melted sulphur and then tipped with a paste of phosphorus, potassium nitrate, or potassium chlorate and glue. Coloring matter may be added to the paste. If potassium chlorate is the oxidizing agent, the match snaps and burns vigorously when friction is applied. This union of the phosphorus with the oxygen, which is loosely held by the oxidizing agent, produces enough heat to ignite the sulphur. The heated sulphur unites with the oxygen of the
air, forming sulphur dioxid, odor of burning sulphur match. The burning of the sulphur in turn ignites the wood.
Safety matches do not contain phosphorus, but in place of it antimony sulphid is used. The ignition is produced by scratching upon a special surface coated with red phosphorus and sand.
The ignition of the match gives a fair illustration of the steps in the production of all flame from fuels; namely, a product rich in hydrogen and carbon, a fair amount of oxygen, and a temperature sufficiently high to cause separation of the hydrogen and carbon compounds into their elements, and a reunion with oxygen to form the simple compounds water and carbon dioxid.
In historical and comparatively recent times the production of igneous combustion was a serious problem, as heat sufficient to ignite even the most finely divided fuel, as tinder, could be provided only by striking steel against flint or pyrite, or even rubbing two sticks together vigorously. Now the problem is much simplified, as the friction on the match causing it to ignite furnishes heat enough to ignite paper or finely divided wood or shavings.
Gas, oil, or semisolids are largely composed of hydrocarbons, which when heated to their kindling point unite with the oxygen of the air forming water and carbon dioxid. If the supply of oxygen is not adequate, the elements form free hydrogen, marsh gas (CH4), and carbon monoxid, besides, leaving some carbon in a glowing state. This glowing carbon is what gives the yellow color and furnishes light in the candle and in the carbon flame. The heat generated by the burning wick in the candle melts the fat (paraffin or stearin), and this liquid being drawn up through the fibres in the wick is slowly changed from liquid to gaseous state, and as the gases expand they pass to the outer portion of the flame, there mingling with the air and being heated to igni-
tion point unite with the oxygen to form carbon dioxid and water. In the second cone the proportion of oxygen being small part of the carbon, though heated to the glowing stage, does not form a chemical union till it reaches the outer cone. The light is due to incandescent carbon particles.