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

Manu did a mistake by pouring water to extinguish the fire.

• This action of Manu was not suitable because the density of oil is lesser than water and that is why water settles down at the bottom of the pan and the fire remains burning.
• Manu could have used a fire extinguisher or put sand on the fire or covered the pan with a lid so the oxygen supply from the atmosphere to the pan will be blocked and the fire will be extinguished.

So, fire can be extinguished by above-mentioned methods.