(soft piano beat)

(slow music)

[Narrator] With your basic matches,

the combustible components are split between

the matchstick and the matchbox strip.

But strike-anywhere matches build all that chemistry

into the tip.

Which means you could ignite them on just about any surface.

So what's inside these mighty matches?

The matchstick itself is made of soft white aspen,

a slow-burning wood that's not very flammable,

which helps protect your fingertips.

Further fireproofing comes from a bath of

monoammonium phosphate, or MAP.

When you blow out the match,

MAP stops it from smoldering.

The head of the match triggers the fire-starting part.

That white dab on the tip, powdered glass.

Tiny shards create friction anywhere you strike it.

And that friction ignites potassium chlorate, which releases

oxygen as it burns.

The same chemical reaction that supplies emergency air on

submarines and airplanes.

Friction also ignites phosphorus sesquisulfide.

It generates enough heat to ignite the aspen shank and then

burns itself out and now the secret sauce.

Potassium dichromate, a potent, highly-combustible oxidizer.

Diamond brand won't tell us exactly what it does but we

bet it's there to accelerate the burn rate.

Pretty hot, right?

Have a burning question about what's inside your stuff?

Leave your question in the comments below

and subscribe to the WIRED channel.

(soft music)