making soda fire extinguisher
Answers
Explanation:
fire extinguisher is an important piece of safety equipment in both the home and lab. You can make your own fire extinguisher using common kitchen ingredients to learn how fire extinguishers work and to learn about gases. Then, apply the Ideal Gas Law to change the characteristics of your homemade fire extinguisher.
How a Fire Extinguisher Works
A fire extinguisher typically deprives a fire of oxygen. If you encounter a fire at home, on a stovetop, for example, you can smother the fire by putting a lid over your pan or pot. In some cases, you can toss a non-flammable chemical on the fire to reduce the combustion reaction. Good choices include table salt (sodium chloride) or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). When baking soda is heated, carbon dioxide gas is given off, suffocating the fire. In this project, you'll cause a chemical reaction to produce carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide sinks in the air, displacing it and removing oxygen from the fire.
Homemade Fire Extinguisher Materials
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
Vinegar (weak acetic acid)
Jar with lid, with a hole in the lid
Make the Fire Extinguisher
Fill the jar about halfway full with vinegar.
To activate the fire extinguisher, drop in a spoonful of baking soda.
Immediately shake the jar and point the hole of the jar toward your fire.
Test out your fire extinguisher on a candle or small intentional fire so you will know what to expect.