Video Demo: Activation Energy

Energy is needed to start a chemical reaction.  Unsurprisingly this is called activation energy.  The video above shows the activation needed to make red phosphorus react with oxygen in the air.  

Update on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 8:05PM by Darren Fix

A former brilliant student of mine, Hayden Parker, informed me that the head of safety matches are not made of red phosphorus.   Science Theatre at Michigan State University explains.

A "striking surface" is made of sand, powdered glass, and a chemical called "red phosphorus". The head of a safety match is made of sulfur, glass powder, and an oxidizing agent.

This is why safety matches cannot be lit on any surface.  The striking surface contains the red phosphorus and not the match itself.