White phosphorus matches

FIG. 21-2. The old, white phosphorus match, not used now, the ordinary match, and the safety match. 

The poisonous qualities of white phosphorus matches showed themselves rarely in use except when the tips were chewed up by children or swallowed by people wishing to commit suicide, Accordii to the U. S, Dispensatory. an infant was killed by eating the heads of... 

A few years later, a Frenchman, Charles Sauria, invented the white phosphorus match, which became an immediate success. When rubbed on a rough surface, the match lighted easily, without hazardous sparks, and smelled better than Lucifers. The match head contained white phosphorus, an oxidizing agent, and glue. White phosphorus is a... 

MRH Barium chlorate 5.06/83, calcium chlorate 5.61/77, potassium chlorate 6.07/76, sodium bromate 4.98/80, sodium chlorate 7.32/75, zinc chlorate 6.11/76 Dry finely divided mixtures of red (or white) phosphorus with chlorates, bromates or iodates of barium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium or zinc will readily explode on initiation by friction, impact or heat. Fires have been caused by accidental contact in the pocket between the red phosphorus in the friction strip on safety-match boxes and potassium chlorate tablets. Addition of a little water to a mixture of white or red phosphorus and potassium iodate causes a violent or explosive reaction. Addition of a little of a solution of phosphorus in carbon disulfide to potassium chlorate causes an explosion when the solvent evaporates. The extreme danger of mixtures of red phosphorus (or sulfur) with chlorates was recognised in the UK some 50 years ago when unlicenced preparation of such mixtures was prohibited by Orders in Council. 

Several allotropic forms of phosphorus are known, the most common of which are the white, red, and black forms. Heating the white form at 400 °C for several hours produces red phosphorus, which is known to include several forms. A red form that is amorphous can be prepared by subjecting white phosphorus to ultraviolet radiation. In the thermal process, several substances (I2, S8, and Na) are known to catalyze the conversion of phosphorus to other forms. Black phosphorus consists of four identifiable forms that result when white phosphorus is subjected to heat and pressure. Phosphorus is used in large quantities in the production of phosphoric acid and other chemicals. White phosphorus has been used extensively in making incendiary devices, and red phosphorus is used in making matches. 

Red phosphors are formed either by heating white phosphorus or by exposing white phosphorus to sunlight. It is quite different from the explosive white phosphorus. For instance, when scratched on a surface, the heads of safety matches made of red phosphorus convert back to white phosphorus and ignite due to the heat of the shght friction of the match on a rough surface. Red phosphorus is also used in fireworks, smoke bombs, and pesticides and to make phosphoric acid, electroluminescent paints, and fertilizers. 

Since the red modification can be handled much more safely than white phosphorus this discovery has been extremely beneficent to workers in the match industry. As early as 1851 von Schrotter prepared matches with it, but they were not easily ignited. H. Hochstatter of Langen, near Frankfort-on-the Main, exhibited successful red phosphorus matches at the London Exhibition of 1872 ( 54). The Hochstatter matches, according to von Schrotter, can be struck even upon cloth, they burn quietly,. . . almost without smoke and smell.. . . What is still more important, the workmen during their production are not... 

Certain chemical reactions can be used for prime ignition. For example, white phosphorus (which "self-ignites " when exposed to air) has been used in bursters for jelled gasoline incendiaries. Diethyl zinc or triethyl aluminum, contained in glass vial, has been used to ignite a match mix in a silent igniter. 

White phosphorus is used mainly for producing phosphoric acid and other chemicals. These chemicals are used to make fertilizers, additives in foods and drinks, cleaning compounds, and other products. Small amounts of white phosphorus have been used as rat and roach poisons and in fireworks. In the past, white phosphorus was used to make matches, but another chemical with fewer harmful health effects has since replaced it. 

White Phosphorus. In an epidemiology study, 48 apparently healthy men working in a phosphorus plant between 1 and 17 years had average creatinine levels in urine (141 mg/L) essentially identical to those of 28 workers (controls) not exposed to white phosphorus (Hughes et al. 1962). However, the groups were apparently not well matched with respect to age and race (details not reported), as only 28 men (controls) volunteered to allow the blood to be drawn (Hughes et al. 1962). 

Studies reporting acute oral exposure of humans to white phosphorus were limited to case reports of intentional or accidental ingestion of match heads, rat poison, cockroach poison, firecrackers, or from military operations. Manufacturers of white phosphorus-containing rat poison have claimed that the only active ingredient in the rat poison was... 

White Phosphorus. White phosphorus does not naturally occur in the environment. It has been manufactured in the past for use in such products as matches, fireworks, pest poisons, and incendiary munitions. It is primarily in the manufacture and use of these products where human exposure has occurred. White phosphorus is also commonly called yellow phosphorus. 

White phosphorus is highly toxic. People have attempted suicide by ingesting matches, fireworks, roach poison, or rat poison containing white phosphorus. Unless emergency poison treatments are applied within 2-3 hours, death is likely. Animal data are consistent with human data after acute oral exposure. Further, a life-threatening condition called phossy jaw has been described following intermediate or chronic occupational exposure to white phosphorus. 

Phosphorous (P) Red phosphorous is used to make matches. The white allo-trope of phosphorous is a much more dangerous material. White phosphorus causes horrific burns. In biological systems, phosphorous is found in genetic materials (RNA and DNA) and in high-energy molecules such as ATP. 

The Uses of Phosphorus. Large amounts of phosphorus made from phosphate rock are burned and converted into phosphoric acid. Phosphorus is also used in making matches. White phosphorus is no longer used for this purpose because of its danger to the health of the... 

White Phosphorus Strike anywhere Safety Match %... 

Ores of phosphorus apatite, hydroxy-apatite, iricalcium phosphate (phosphate rock). White phosphorus, red phosphorus, black phosphorus. High polymers and their properties. Manufacture and uses of phosphorus. Ordinary matches, safety matches. 

Phosphorus has many allotropes. The most common of these is white phosphorus, which exists in two modifications, a-P4 (cubic) and p-P4 (hexagonal). Condensation of phosphorus from the gas or liquid phases (both of which contain tetrahedral P4 molecules) gives primarily the a form, which slowly converts to the P form at temperatures above —76.9°C. During slow air oxidation, a-P4 emits a yellow-green light, an example of phosphorescence that has been known since antiquity (and is the source of the name of this element) to slow such oxidation, white phosphorus is commonly stored under water. White phosphorus was once used in matches however, its extremely high toxicity has led to its replacement by other materials, especially P4S3 and red phosphorus, which are much less toxic. 

Although the presence of a small amount of white phosphorus is not in itself detrixnental in match-making, It has been anumed to be... 

Deteetion of White Pbospborua.—It is now necessary, therefore, to lest for white phosphorus in match-heads, in cases where its pretence is suspected. Hitherto no exact method has been advanced, suitable for the detection of white phosphorus under all conditions. 

On the one hand, the examination of phosphorus sesquisulphide, which is frequently present, is, according to Friedheim, difficxilt, because the sulphur-phosphorus compounds gradually decompose into compounds containing less sulphur, with separation of white phosphorus, and on the other hand, the detection of pho horus in matches in presence of potassium chlorate cannot be carried out by the ordinary methods of analysis. 

In some cases it is possible, when examining match-heads stated to contain no white phosphorus, and to which no white phosphorus has been added as such, to demonstrate the presence of this substance, yet it cannot be ascertained whether it was added, or whether it was... 

The following method for the detection of white phosphorus in matches is based upon that of Aronstein. One hundred or more... 

---