How to Make the Perfect Match With Red Phosphorus
Matches can be used to light fires, cigarettes, cigars, candles, etc. Making a match can be quite dangerous, however. Red phosphorus is the typical ignition fuel for matches, and it is highly combustible. Mixing the chemicals used to make matches can be extremely dangerous, so you need to exercise extreme caution.
Instructions
-
-
1
Mix potassium chlorate and Elmer's glue into a stiff paste. This will serve as the fuel for getting the match to light. Measurements of ingredients are relative to how many matches you would like to make. Start with 1/2 teaspoon of potassium chlorate and add glue until there is a stiff mixture. The same measurements can be applied to the red phosphorus.
-
2
Roll the end of the dowel rods in the mixture. This might be easier to do if the mixture was made in a bowl and then put on a large piece of wax paper.
-
-
3
Bake the dowel rods on a cookie sheet at 150 degrees for two hours.
-
4
Mix red phosphorus and glue into a thick paste while the matches are baking.
-
5
Dip the same end into the red phosphorus mixture.
-
6
Bake for an additional two hours at 150 degrees.
-
7
Place in a container and strike to use.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Line the baking sheet with wax paper in order to keep these combustible chemicals from getting into food that will later be cooked on the same sheet.
Harmful and combustible chemicals are very dangerous. Exercise extreme caution when creating your matches. Under no circumstances should you mix potassium chlorate and red phosphorus, as they will explode! The friction of mixing them causes the chemicals to combust, and this could cause bodily injury and blindness.
