When one strikes a safety match, the first step is

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Q: 47 (NDA-II/2016)
When one strikes a safety match, the first step is

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

NDA-II

stats: 

0,16,24,7,10,20,3

keywords: 

{'red phosphorus': [0, 0, 0, 3], 'white phosphorus': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'potassium chlorate': [0, 0, 0, 3], 'potassium chloride': [1, 0, 1, 3], 'glue': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'safety match': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'sulfur': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'first step': [2, 0, 1, 1], 'oxygen': [3, 0, 1, 0], 'starch': [1, 0, 0, 0]}

The correct answer for the first step in striking a safety match is option 3, which is the conversion of a small amount of red phosphorus into white phosphorus.

Let`s evaluate the other options to understand why they are not the correct answer:

Option 1 suggests that the first step is the burning of sulfur. While sulfur is present in safety matches as an ingredient in the match head, it is not the first step in the ignition process.

Option 2 states that the first step is the decomposition of potassium chlorate into potassium chloride and oxygen. Although oxygen is involved in the match ignition process, the decomposition of potassium chlorate does not occur initially. It is not the first step.

Option 4 suggests that the first step is the burning of glue and starch. While glue and starch are indeed present in the composition of match heads, they do not ignite as the first step.

Therefore, option 3 is the correct answer, as the conversion of red phosphorus into white phosphorus is the first step in the ignition process of a safety match.