The Chemistry of Matches Explained While a Match Head Burns in Super Slow Motion

Reactions explained the chemistry of matches while a match head ignites and burns in super slow motion. The process of lighting the match takes just tenths of a second, but a high-speed camera stretches that out into a two-minute video.

To fire up the grill or the gas stove, we often reach for a match. It turns out there’s a lot of chemistry going on to make those little wooden wonders work. The best way to find out about the chemistry of burning matches is to watch it in ultra-slow motion.

In 2014, the blog Compound Interest created an infographic that similarly explains the chemistry of matches.

image via Compound Interest