match
Sign in to savethumb|Igniting a match on the striking strip of a matchbox
AI overview
A match is a small stick with a chemical coating on its tip that ignites when struck against a rough surface, producing a flame for starting fires. Matches have been an important tool throughout history for reliably creating fire, making them useful for lighting candles, stoves, and other purposes before modern conveniences like lighters and electricity became widespread.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- UK legislation.short_title
- White Phosphorus Matches Prohibition Act 1908
- UK legislation.type
- Act
- UK legislation.parliament
- Parliament of the United Kingdom
- UK legislation.long_title
- An Act to prohibit the Manufacture, Sale, and Importation of Matches made with White Phosphorus, and for other purposes in connection therewith.
- UK legislation.year
- 1908
- UK legislation.citation
- 8 Edw. 7. c. 42
- UK legislation.territorial_extent
- United Kingdom
- UK legislation.royal_assent
- 21 December 1908
- UK legislation.commencement
- 1 January 1910
- UK legislation.repeal_date
- 1 July 1938
- UK legislation.repealing_legislation
- Factories Act 1937
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- Early matches
- Chemical matches
- Friction matches
- Replacement of white phosphorus
- Regulation of white phosphorus
- {{anchor|The_safety_match}}Safety matches
- Modern matches
- Storm matches
- Hobbyist collection
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|Igniting a match on the striking strip of a matchbox
A match is a tool for starting a fire. Typically, matches are made of small wooden sticks or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by friction generated by striking the match against a suitable surface. Wooden matches are packaged in matchboxes, and paper matches are partially cut into rows and stapled into matchbooks. The coated end of a match, known as the match "head", consists of a bead of active ingredients and binder, often colored for easier inspection. There are two main types of matches: safety matches, which can be struck only against a specially prepared surface, and strike-anywhere matches, for which any suitably frictional surface can be used.