Question

Which of the following acids is used in fire extinguishers?
(A) Hydrochloric acid
(B) Sulphuric acid
(C) Nitric acid
(D) Oxalic acid

Answer 1

Hint: The material or a substance that burns completely with a blue flame without a cloud of smoke is called flammable substances. The material or a substance that burns with a yellow flame gives a lot of smoke is a non-flammable substance. Combustible and flammable materials are easily ignited at moderate and ambient temperature.

Complete step by step answer:
The working principle of fire extinguisher was based on the following conditions:
(1) Identify the combustible material and cool it below its ignition temperature.
(2) Reduce or cut off the supply of air
(3) do the above two process at the same time

The material which is used as a fire extinguisher must release carbon dioxide by reacting with another chemical or itself because carbon dioxide is a non-supporter of combustion.
The soda or baking soda type extinguisher acts as a cutting supply of air and acts on all types of fire except due to electrical and inflammable liquids.
The reaction of sulfuric acid with baking soda liberated carbon dioxide, which increases the percentage of carbon dioxide.
$2NaHC{{O}_{3}}+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to N{{a}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}+2{{H}_{2}}O+2C{{O}_{2}}\uparrow $

Hence, the sulphuric acid is used as in fire extinguishers.
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: Flammable and inflammable are the same things exactly which a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. For example, flammable liquids like acetone, benzene, petrol, and flammable solids like calcium carbide, nitrates products, magnesium metal, etc.