Why is carbon dioxide used to put out a fire?

Answer 1

Fire is the result of a combustion reaction, where a carbon based compound reacts with oxygen to create water, CO2 and sometimes other substances. By using CO2 on a fire, it pushes out any oxygen that would otherwise feed the fire and ends the reaction, or puts out the fire.

Because it is heavier than air and non-flammable, so it displaces the air and smothers the fire.

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide is good for putting out fires because it displaces air (oxygen). The fire then cannot breathe. With the whoosh of a CO2 extinguisher comes a cold white cloud of carbon dioxide that rushes out of the nozzle and covers the target area like a fog. It pushes air (and the oxygen the fire needs to continue to burn) out of the way. Presto! No more fire! Carbon dioxide can be produced by baking soda and vinegar.

Answer 3

There is something known as the "triad of fire". In order for a fire to occur or continue, there must be three things present, hence the 'triad'.

1. Fuel. Something that will burn. Gasoline, paper, wood, oil, plastic, etc.

2. Oxygen. Oxygen must be present in sufficient amounts to allow the reaction to go forward.

3. A Temperature higher than the ignition point of the fuel. This can be a spark, friction, or the flame itself. Any heat source will do, provided it gets hot enough.

If any one of these components are eliminated, there will be no fire.

Answer 4

Fire is the thermal and light energy produced in the chemical reaction of rapid oxidation. That is, a flammable substance reacting chemically with oxygen.

Heat applied to a fuel and oxygen mixture catalyses a rapid oxidation process which becomes self sustaining as the chemical reaction produces its own thermal energy. The process will continue until either the fuel or oxygen are exhausted.

Carbon dioxide purges the oxygen gas from the reaction which then cannot continue and hence, the heat produced is halted.

NB. This does not work if the source of oxygen is contained as part of the composition of the material undergoing oxidation. EEG. explosive chemicals such as TNT or dynamite supply their own oxygen and will therefore oxidise and burn in a vacuum or underwater.

Also, it includes CO2 which is a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.

Answer 5

When carbon dioxide is used to put out fires, there is a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and it blocks the combustion reaction (fire) from using the oxygen in the air. Combustion reactions such as fire require oxygen, so when the oxygen is blocked from reacting, the fire becomes smaller because there is less reacting.

Answer 6

Because fires need oxygen to be able to burn. If you replace the oxygen around the fire with carbon dioxide, it will die.

Answer 7

Because carbon dioxide is non-flammable, it suffocates by depriving the flames of oxygen.