Burned matchsticks are attracted to magnets due to the formation of magnetic iron oxides
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
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AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Reference material explains that certain matchstick heads contain iron oxide as a colorant, and the combustion process can reduce it into magnetic iron or iron compounds, explaining why burned matchsticks are attracted to magnets.
# What is behind of the attraction between a burned matchstick with a magnet?
Tags: thermodynamics, quantum-chemistry, home-experiment, combustion, magnetism
- Score: 23
- Views: 9723
- Answers: 1
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Another.Chemist (2650 rep)
- Asked: 2017-05-02
- Edited: 2017-05-04
- Site: chemistry
## Question
I do not know how to understand the reasons of why a burned matchstick is attracted by a magnet (most probably) of Neodymium.
Here are some screenshots of a video in which this natural phenomenon is presented:
(In the video, see at 1 min 25 s):
Source
Source
## Answers
### Answer by aventurin (score: 13 [ACCEPTED])
Some matchstick heads contain iron(III) oxide as a colorant.
The yellowish color of the burning match indicates that it has low oxygen, i.e. a reducing flame. It reduces the iron oxide to iron which is attracted by the magnet.
The reduction reactions that occur are probably quite complex. Below are two simplified possible reaction equations. $\ce{(CH2)_n}$ in equation (2) stands for paraffin from the splint's impregnation.
$$\ce{Fe2O3 + 3 CO -> 2 Fe + 3 CO2} \tag{1}$$
$$\ce{Fe2O3 + \frac{1}{n} (CH2)_n -> 2 Fe + CO2 + H2O} \tag{2}$$