Why does't phosphorus in a phosphorus match react with oxygen when it is kept in air?
The match stick contains Sulphour, glass powder, KClO3 (an oxidizing agent) and red phosphorous, which is an allotropic form of phosphorous and has stronger bonding than the rest two i.e, white phosphorous and yellow phosphorous. So, it does not react with oxygen and does not catches fire untill, it is rubbed with another chemical. By rubbing, the glass powder converts red P to white P which catches fire.