Combustion And Flame
A match stick does not catch fire on its own at room temperature because the ignition temperature of the match stick is much higher than the room temperature. The matchstick starts burning on rubbing it on the rough side provided on the matchbox.
Why does a matchstick does not catch fire?
Explanation: Matchstick does not catch fire on its own as when the head is rubbed against a coarse surface, heat is produced due to friction and it takes the chemical up to its ignition temperature, and the stick starts to burn.
Can matches ignite?
The gruesome history of matches
Its pyrophoric properties mean that it can spontaneously self-ignite. This is why it is commonly used as an incendiary weapon by the military.
