Question

What does a soda- acid type fire extinguisher contain? How does it work? Explain the working of a soda-acid fire extinguisher with the help of a labelled diagram.

Answer 1

When the container is tilted or shaken the sulphuric acid mixes and reacts with the sodium bicarbonate producing large quantities of foam which blankets the fire and thus extinguishing it.

The reaction is as follows:

$H_{2}S{O}_4+NaHC{O}_3⟶N{a}_{2}S{O}_4+C{O}_2+H_{2}O$

This is a picture of a soda-acid fire extinguisher.

The principle of working of fire extinguisher is based on either of the following three conditions:
• cooling the combustible material below its ignition temperature, or
• cutting off the supply of air, or
• cooling the combustible material and at the same time cutting the supply of air.