Final answer:
The reaction of potassium chlorate and ribose in safety matches illustrates a combustion process in which potassium chlorate acts as an oxidizing agent, liberating oxygen that assists in ignition and burning, similar to the way substances combust when heated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major ingredient in ordinary safety matches is potassium chlorate (KClO3), which acts as a source of oxygen in combustion reactions. When potassium chlorate reacts with ribose (C5H10O5), it does so violently, producing potassium chloride, carbon dioxide, and water. This type of reaction is representative of how matches ignite, whereby ingredients like KClO3 and P4S3 in strike-anywhere matches react vigorously upon the friction of striking, leading to the ignition of the match stem.
KClO3 is an oxidizing agent that releases oxygen during the reaction, aiding in the combustion of combustible materials such as the wood in match stems or ribose as in the given example. When exposed to a sufficient amount of heat from an external source, such as friction or a flame, these combustion reactions can proceed rapidly, releasing energy as heat and light. Commonly, the use of a catalyst, like manganese dioxide in the case of potassium chlorate decomposition, can greatly speed up these chemical processes without being consumed in the reaction.
Oxygen is a key element in combustion reactions, not just in the case of matches but also in general scenarios where substances like methane burn to produce compounds such as carbon dioxide and water, as mentioned in various examples of oxidation and combustion in the presence of oxygen.