Question

Which of the following cannot be used for the manufacturing of carbon dioxide fire extinguishers?

• A. Sodium bicarbonate
• B. Calcium carbonate
• C. Nitrogen oxide
• D. Ammonium chloride

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C), (D)

The correct options are
B Calcium carbonate
C Nitrogen oxide
D Ammonium chloride

A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher contains sodium bicarbonate $\left(NaHC{O}_3\right)$ powder. Dilute sulphuric acid $\left(H_{2}S{O}_4\right)$ is placed inside it in a glass capsule.

When the knob is pressed, the glass capsule breaks and the sulphuric acid in it comes in contact with sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide gas.


$2{\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3\left(s\right)+H_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(s\right)+2{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(g\right)+2H_{2}O\left(l\right)\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{Water}\mathrm{bicarbonate}\mathrm{acid}\mathrm{sulphate}\mathrm{dioxide}$
A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher generally contains sodium bicarbonate $\left(NaHC{O}_3\right)$ powder or potassium bicarbonate $\left(KHC{O}_3\right)$. It does not have chemical like calcium carbonate, nitrogen oxide and ammonium chloride as these chemicals do not have fire extinguishing property.