When was the match invented and by who?
A predecessor of the match, small sticks of pinewood impregnated with sulfur, was developed in China in 577. The first modern, self-igniting match was invented in 1805 by K. Chancel, assistant to Professor L. J. Thénard of Paris. The head of the match consisted of a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, sugar, and rubber. They were ignited by dipping the tip of the match in a small asbestos bottle filled with sulfuric acid. This kind of match was quite expensive and its usage was dangerous, so Chancel’s matches never gained much popularity.
