Question

The surface of the head of a matchstick and sides of a matchbox is deliberately made rough to
A. Increase friction
B. Decrease friction
C. Increase pressure
D. Decrease amount of heat

Answer 1

Hint: When that end is struck on a rough surface, the friction generates enough amount of heat to ignite the chemicals deposited on one end and produce a small flame.

Complete step-by-step solution:
A match is a small stick of wood or strip of cardboard with a solidified mixture of flammable chemicals deposited at the one side of the matchbox or at the one end. The friction due to the rubbing of the phosphorus tip of the matchstick against the side of the matchbox side leads to the increases in the temperature of the tip to get ignited. Some matches may be called strike-anywhere matches, and may be ignited by striking them on any rough surface.
Hence, the statement is given in the question, the surface of the head of a matchstick and sides of a matchbox is deliberately made rough to increase friction. Therefore option (A) is the correct answer.

Note: The amount of temperature required to ignite red phosphorus is quite low and when the matchstick is struck in a proper way, a temperature enough to ignite the phosphorus is achieved. The head of the matchstick is made from the chemical name as- antimony trisulphide and potassium chlorate. The rubbing surface of the matchbox has powdered glass and a little red phosphorus. When the matchstick is rubbed against the side (one or both) of the matchbox, some amount of the red phosphorus is converted into white phosphorus. This immediately reacts with potassium chlorate in the matchstick head to produce enough heat to ignite antimony trisulphide and therefore starts the combustion of a matchstick.