Question

What is used with acid in fire extinguishers to produce carbon dioxide gas?
A) Metal oxide
B) Metal hydrogen carbonate
C) Metallic acid
D) Base

Answer 1

Hint: A fire extinguisher is a tool that is used to control small-sized fires. The acid and the other chemical are placed in different chambers in the fire extinguisher and when in need, the barrier between them is broken and reacts with each other to give carbon dioxide gas which acts as fire extinguisher gas. One can think about the reaction of the given options with acid which can produce carbon dioxide.

Complete step by step answer:
1) First of all we will discuss the fire extinguisher tool. This is a tool that is used to control the small-sized fire by the action of carbon dioxide gas on the fire.
2) As we know there is a need for oxygen gas to burn something and form a fire, the carbon dioxide gas in the fire extinguisher gas when applied on fire cuts the contact of oxygen from the fire and makes the zero contact of the fire with oxygen.
3) Now as the fire needs the oxygen to burn further and making zero contact with the fire will further decrease the fire gradually and stop the fire.
4) Now as we have understood the working of fire extinguishers and the carbon dioxide gas effect on fire let's see the chemicals that are used to produce carbon dioxide gas in it. The reaction will go as below,
$NaHC{O_3} + {H_2}S{O_4}\xrightarrow{{}}N{a_2}S{O_4} + {H_2}O + C{O_2} \uparrow $
In the above reaction hydrochloric acid is used as acid and $NaHC{O_3}$ is used as metal hydrogen carbonate to react with each other which produces carbon dioxide gas.
5) Therefore, Metal hydrogen carbonate is used with acid in a fire extinguisher to produce carbon dioxide gas which shows option B as the correct choice.

Note:
This fire extinguisher is used only for small-scale fires and not big-sized fires as the working of this fire extinguisher is dependent on the blockage of oxygen supply to the fire and in the case of large fires it is not possible. While using the fire extinguisher one should maintain a safe distance from the fire.