Question

Where does the activation energy to light the match come from?

A) It comes from the matchstick itself.
B) It comes from the surrounding air.
C) It comes from the friction when striking the match.
D) It comes from a chemical reaction with the phosphorus on the match head.

Answer 1

The activation energy needed to light a match comes from the heat generated by the friction when the match is struck against a rough surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

The activation energy required to light a match comes from C) the friction when striking the match. Friction generates heat, which is sufficient to increase the energy of the chemicals in the match head to the point where they can react. The heat from the friction allows the reactants—like the KClO3 and P4S3 in strike-anywhere matches—to reach their transition state, leading to a vigorous reaction that ignites the match. This is an example of how heat energy speeds up the motion of molecules and helps them reach the transition state necessary for a chemical reaction to occur.