Question

With the help of a chemical equation, explain how a soda-acid fire extinguisher helps in putting out a fire.

Answer 1

Hint: A fire extinguisher is an active firefighting equipment that is used to put out or control minor flames, usually in an emergency. It is not designed for use on an out-of-control fire that has reached the ceiling, poses a threat to the user (e.g., no escape path, smoke, explosion hazard, etc. ), or otherwise necessitates the assistance of a fire department.

Complete answer:
Sodium bicarbonate and sulphuric acid are used in soda-acid fire extinguishers. It is the most effective fire extinguisher for home usage. It is made out of a sturdy iron vessel with a discharge nozzle on the side. A sodium bicarbonate solution is placed in the iron vessel.
Any fire extinguisher's operation is dependent on three conditions: cooling of the combustible material below its ignition temperature; cooling of the combustible material below its ignition temperature; and cooling of the combustible material below its ignition temperature.
severing the air supply
Simultaneously cool the flammable substance while shutting off the air supply.
The fire extinguisher contains a sodium bicarbonate in the water solution as well as sulfuric acid in a separate container.
When you turn the knob on the fire extinguisher, the sulphuric acid reacts with the sodium bicarbonate solution and produces a little amount of carbon dioxide gas.
Carbon dioxide is a non-combustible gas that does not support combustion.
It is heavier than air and so shuts off the oxygen supply to the air, putting out the flames.
The following response occurs:
 $ \text{2NaHC}{{\text{O}}_{\text{ }\!\!~\!\!\text{ 3}}}\text{+H}{{\text{ }\!\!~\!\!\text{ }}_{\text{2}}}\text{S}{{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}}\to \text{N}{{\text{a}}_{\text{2}}}\text{S}{{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}}\text{+2}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}\text{O+2CO}{{\text{ }\!\!~\!\!\text{ }}_{\text{2}}} $ .

Note:
As part of fire safety laws, most nations need frequent fire extinguisher maintenance by a qualified person to function safely and efficiently. Due to a lack of maintenance, an extinguisher may fail to discharge when needed or rupture while under pressure. Even recently, deaths have resulted from rusted extinguishers bursting.