Fate sometimes has led to discoveries or inventions surprising unusual. This is the case of matches, also called phosphors, or mixed. The origin of matches dating back to the old man’s desire to make fire. The ability to create fire has troubled human beings since ancient times, since it depended for heating, cooking, lit in the dark, develop tools, such as clay pots, for example, and drive away wild animals.
So, since prehistoric times, man had two options: either let the fire burning in perpetuity or figure out how to turn. The collection of precious heat therefore, required application by the primitive man. The friction of two solid bodies that could light the miraculous spark was obtained from wood, stone, strap with stone and flint with the link.
But none of these procedures showed effective enough to man progressed in historical time and wanted more. And as sometimes happens accidentally consuming an alchemist came the discovery of phosphorus.
Alchemy and phosphorus:
Arguably a very schematic and simplified way the discovery of phosphorus due to Alchemy.
Although at present alchemy is described disparagingly as pseudoscience the chemical sciences have become what they are following a path that initially part of the experiments performed in ancient Egypt by those early alchemists.
Upon examination, chemistry studies well into the eighteenth century were the sole province of alchemists toiling in the search for the Philosopher’s Stone. Even Marcellin Berthelot (1827-1907), considered the father of modern chemistry, is distancing itself from this legacy, which is very present in his work The origins of alchemy.
And the search for precious metals from common substances charmed the most illustrious minds. So much so that what we really wanted the discoverer of phosphorus-the alchemist from Hamburg Henning Brand- Between 1669 and 1675 was the conversion of silver from human urine. This processed large amounts of the urine until you get a solid, highly flammable, which glowed in the dark. He called it “cold fire”.
At the moment there was that, because silver was obviously not, and Brand knew. As a good alchemist Henning Brand did not patent the discovery or stopped writing phases of the experiment.
And is that something the hermetic philosophy current of thought which ascribes the alchemy-named for the darkness and secrecy from their followers, whose writings and formulas are encrypted so that only insiders had access to this knowledge. A deliberately convoluted know for pure souls.
But it was the alchemist, but a contemporary and fellow countryman, the doctor Johann Sigmund Elsholtz, who named him “cold fire” under the name phosphorus. Etymologically means “light bearer”, in reference to their light properties, and so as recalled by posterity.
Phosphorus and matches:
The idea of creating a straw phosphate friction was the brainchild of John Walker in 1826, but Samuel Jones sold in 1833, although the match was very toxic and the matches were too dangerous. Due to the low temperature that is inflamed, sometimes lit spontaneously, causing explosions and high-risk projections.
In addition, workers engaged in manufacture had necrosis in the tissues of the nose and jaw due to continued exposure to toxic fumes of phosphorus.
So much was known harmful effects during the nineteenth century was one of the substances used in cases of criminal poisoning, without ruling was also easy to accidentally suffer its effects. Thus, finally, white phosphorus was banned.
But this does not mean the end of the match ups, since this was quickly replaced by red phosphorus, an allotropic variety greatly surpassed that his relative, the white phosphorus. For starters it was not toxic and there was no danger of ignition, unless it reaches 240ºC. This is not easy in the home.
An indication of popularity was the name they met these matches, “matches without poison”.
Matches without phosphorus:
However, over time, advances in chemistry could do without phosphorus, which is desirable in view of the above drawbacks. We used different materials such as pulp antimony sulfide, potassium chlorate and potassium ferrocyanide. These were the “matches hygiene”.
Also appeared on the market “androgynous match” with two ends, one with phosphorus-free pasta with pasta and other phosphorous. Split in half, rubbed and got the flame. And finally showed up matches without phosphorus and without special shoe, made from oxidizing and fuel suitable as potassium chlorate and sulfur, among others.
The matches of the century:
Since the late nineteenth century the landscape of the matches has changed very little. We distinguish between regular matches and “security.” The latter have the novelty that only lit the match to rub the surface that incorporates the box in one of its sides. It is a mixture of red phosphorus, powdered glass and glue to the friction ignites and turns the head of the match.
Alchemy and Science:
The degree of development and technology of today make many gestures easy day, but most of these small acts of modern man of witchcraft seem to work just a few centuries ago.
That is the reason that the desire for knowledge, research and experimentation led many thinkers certain times to death (see Counter), while those who were spared were to live feeling in the neck the breath lethal intransigence, stupidity and obscurantism.
However, there have always been men who have been able to look farther and higher. And some of these men, moreover, were able to overcome obstacles and fear. Before the nineteenth century many of these men had become alchemists.
