How it works How does matchbook work

When the matchstick is rubbed against the side of the match box, some of the red phosphorus is converted into white phosphorus; this immediately reacts with potassium chlorate in the matchstick head to produce enough heat to ignite antimony trisulphide and starts the combustion of matchstick.

In 1826  John Walker of England invented the first friction matches.
 Walker's matches were ignited by drawing the heads through a folded piece of paper coated with ground glass. He began selling them in 1827, but they were difficult to light and were not a success. Again In 1831, Charles Sauria of France developed a match that used white phosphorus.