Why is baking soda preferred over sodium carbonate in fire extinguishers?
It releases carbon dioxide easily with acid
Baking soda is sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3. In a soda-acid fire extinguisher it is stored with water, and a small sealed bottle of sulphuric acid is kept above it.
When the extinguisher is inverted the acid mixes with the baking soda and reacts as: \(\text{NaHCO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CO}_2\uparrow\).
The carbon dioxide gas released is heavier than air. It forms a blanket over the burning material and cuts off the oxygen supply, so the flames die out.
Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) also gives CO2 with acid, but it dissolves less readily and reacts more slowly; baking soda is milder, safer to store, and releases CO2 more easily on contact with acid.
Hence, baking soda is preferred because it releases carbon dioxide easily with acid.
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