Which of the following is applied on the top of the matchsticks?a)Red ...
- Red phosphorous is a type of amorphous, volatile phosphorus.
- Red phosphorus reacts with potassium chlorate present at the tip of the match thus causing ignition.
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Which of the following is applied on the top of the matchsticks?a)Red ...
The correct answer is option 'A' i.e. Red phosphorus.
Explanation:
Matchsticks are small sticks made of wood or cardboard that are coated with a combustible substance at one end. This combustible substance is called a match head. The match head contains several chemicals that ignite when struck against a rough surface and produce a flame. One of the chemicals used in match heads is red phosphorus.
Red phosphorus is a non-toxic and non-flammable substance. It is a dark red powder that is insoluble in water. Red phosphorus is an allotrope of elemental phosphorus, which means that it is a different form of the same element. It is formed by heating white phosphorus to a temperature of about 250°C in the absence of air.
Red phosphorus is used in match heads because it is less reactive than white phosphorus and does not ignite spontaneously in air. When a matchstick is struck against a rough surface, the friction generates enough heat to ignite the red phosphorus in the match head. The ignited red phosphorus then reacts with other chemicals in the match head to produce a flame.
In addition to red phosphorus, match heads also contain other chemicals such as powdered glass, potassium chlorate, and sulfur. These chemicals help to regulate the burn rate and color of the flame produced by the match head.
In conclusion, red phosphorus is applied on the top of matchsticks because it is a less reactive form of elemental phosphorus that ignites when struck against a rough surface and produces a flame.