Question

$NaHC{O_3}$ is used as a fire extinguisher:
1. True
2. False

Answer 1

$NaHC{O_3}$, Sodium Bicarbonate also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, is a source of carbon dioxide. And carbon dioxide $C{O_2}$ is neither combustible nor helps in combustion.

Complete Step By Step Solution:
It is first needed to understand what the requirements of fire extinguishers are.
First of all, a fire extinguisher needs such a reaction that it produces a gas which is not combustible and also not helps in combustion like carbon dioxide $C{O_2}$ . So fire extinguishers due to these reasons have two containers, one of which contains sodium hydrogen carbonate,$NaHC{O_3}$ and water and another container is having sulphuric acid, ${H_2}S{O_4}$. And when the fire extinguisher is released by pressing knob then both of the chemicals react and produce a lot of carbon dioxide $C{O_2}$ gas which is not combustible and also does not help in combustion.

Reaction taking place in this process: 2$NaHC{O_3}$+${H_2}S{O_4}$ $\to$ $N{a_2}S{O_4}$ +2${H_2}O$ +2$C{O_2}$
So that’s why $NaHC{O_3}$ is used as a fire extinguisher.

So the above statement is true.

Note:
$NaHC{O_3}$ that is sodium bicarbonate is a source of carbon dioxide so it is used as an ingredient in baking powders. It is to be noted that fire extinguishers always need a gas which is not combustible.