The element used in the production of matches is sulphur. Matches are small sticks made of wood or cardboard with a chemical mixture at one end. This chemical mixture, called the match head, contains several compounds including sulphur. When the match is struck against a rough surface, the friction generates heat that ignites the sulphur in the match head, causing a flame. This flame then ignites the other compounds in the match head, which in turn ignites the wood or cardboard stick.
Sulphur is an important component of the match head because it is highly flammable and burns easily. It also helps to ignite the other compounds in the match head. However, sulphur by itself is not a good fuel, which means that it cannot sustain a flame on its own. Therefore, it needs other combustible materials, such as potassium chlorate or phosphorus, to make the match head burn. Overall, sulphur plays a crucial role in the chemistry of matches and allows us to easily start fires for various purposes.