Who invented matches?
Depends on your drfinition of match I suppose. . . A match is a simple and convenient means of producing fire under controlled circumstances and on demand. It consists of a short wooden or cardboard stick with a small head of flammable chemicals and a striking surface. A predecessor of the match, small sticks of pinewood impregnated with sulfur, was developed in China in the 6th century AD. The first modern match was invented in 1805 by K. Chancel, assistant to Professor L. J. Thnard 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. The first friction match was invented by English chemist John Walker in 1827. Early work had been done by Robert Boyle in the 1680s with phosphorus and sulfur, but his efforts had not
