The Magnetic Match
Materials:
- Matches
- A strong magnet (Neodymium)
What to do?
- Try to lift the matchstick with the magnet. Are you successful?
- Now, light the matchstick and wait until most or all of it has burned.
- Try again to lift the matchstick with the magnet, were you successful this time?
How does this happen?
The match head is made of a mixture of substances, the main one being potassium chlorate but also includes iron oxide (in a quantity of about 5-6%). If a magnet is brought close to a matchstick, it will not be attracted to it and will not become magnetized because iron oxide has very weak magnetism. However, during burning, a chemical reaction occurs in which the iron returns to its metallic state, and in this form, it has a stronger magnetic force. As mentioned, the amount of iron in a matchstick is small, so a very strong neodymium magnet must be used. Additionally, the more the matchstick burns, the lighter it will be, and the magnet will be able to lift it more easily.
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