Why we are using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) in soda acid fire extinguisher
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Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) (baking soda) is a substance found in all living things, regulating pH balance. Made from sodium carbonate (soda ash), soda ash is mined from trona ore. The soda ash is dissolved in a solution containing carbon dioxide. Sodium bicarbonate precipitates out naturally. Sodium bicarbonate is utilized in a multitude of applications, not the least of which is the soda-acid fire extinguisher.
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When sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is heated, it becomes sodium carbonate. In this process water and carbon dioxide is released. The CO2 starves the fire of O2.
Fun chemistry experiment: baking soda in an oven at 400 degrees F will undergo this reaction. The sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda) is used in pools as well as a cleaner for coffee makers. You can buy a 12 pound bag of baking soda in the pool section at Walmart and make this compound cheaper than buying it. Google Washing Soda to see what else you can do with it. :)
They remove either the air, fuel or heat (or all) component in the fire.
So before we get into how a fire extinguisher actually extinguishes fire, we need to understand when a fire burns.
Three things need to be present: air (oxygen gas), fuel, and heat. If one or more of these things are absent, a fire will not start.
That means the fire extinguishers removes 1+ of these criteria.
Water Extinguishers - the most common type. Removes heat. Commonly used by firefighters."Dry" Extinguishers - cuts the fuel. Uses compressed nitrogen. This is what you would use in case of a gasoline fire; water will worsen the situation.CO2 Extinguishers - mixture of liquid and gaseous CO2. It removes the heat (because it's so cold - liquid state) and it removes the oxygen. This is the one with the white
Fun chemistry experiment: baking soda in an oven at 400 degrees F will undergo this reaction. The sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda) is used in pools as well as a cleaner for coffee makers. You can buy a 12 pound bag of baking soda in the pool section at Walmart and make this compound cheaper than buying it. Google Washing Soda to see what else you can do with it. :)
They remove either the air, fuel or heat (or all) component in the fire.
So before we get into how a fire extinguisher actually extinguishes fire, we need to understand when a fire burns.
Three things need to be present: air (oxygen gas), fuel, and heat. If one or more of these things are absent, a fire will not start.
That means the fire extinguishers removes 1+ of these criteria.
Water Extinguishers - the most common type. Removes heat. Commonly used by firefighters."Dry" Extinguishers - cuts the fuel. Uses compressed nitrogen. This is what you would use in case of a gasoline fire; water will worsen the situation.CO2 Extinguishers - mixture of liquid and gaseous CO2. It removes the heat (because it's so cold - liquid state) and it removes the oxygen. This is the one with the white
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