Question

Manu was heating oil to fry potato chips. The cooking oil all of a sudden caught fire; he poured water to extinguish the fire. Do you think this action was suitable? If yes, why? If not, why not? In such a condition what should Manu have done?

Answer 1

No, Because water is not suitable for fires involving oil.

1. Oil is lighter than water, when one will pour water on burning oil, It will settle down at the bottom of the vessel.
2. Pouring soil or sand may help to extinguish the fire, as they reduce the flow of air.
3. The particles will not let the air pass through the oil and fire will stop.
4. This happens because the flow of oxygen stops and without oxygen burning of fire is not possible.
5. Manu should have switched off the flame of the burner and put a lid on the frying pan.
6. By doing this the contact between fuel and oxygen is cutoff and flame will go off.

Thus with the help of sand or soil manu stops the fire.