Question

State the chemical property on which the following use of baking soda is based:

In soda-acid fire extinguishers.

Answer 1

Chemical Property: Reaction with acid to release CO₂ gas.

Baking soda reacts with sulfuric acid inside the extinguisher to produce a large volume of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas.

Being heavier than oxygen, CO₂ forms a blanket over the fire, cutting off the oxygen supply and extinguishing the flames.

\[\ce{2NaHCO3 + H2SO4 -> Na2SO4 + 2H2O + 2CO2\uparrow}\]