Question

What extinguishes a fire most quickly?
A. cold water
B. boiling water
C. hot water
D. ice

Answer 1

When we talk about extinguishing a fire, it involves absorption of heat energy. The object which absorbs heat energy most quickly out of the given options shall be able to extinguish fire most quickly. By analysing the heat absorption properties of the given substances, we can get the required answer for the fastest extinguisher.

Complete answer:
The process of extinguishing a fire requires absorption of heat energy from the fire.
In order to extinguish a fire, we require a type of water which can absorb the heat energy released by the fire most quickly. Now when we heat water then the amount of energy absorbed by it is much less compared to when water gets converted into steam. So, a water that is at higher temperature will absorb a greater amount of heat energy from the fire and extinguish it faster than the water which is at lower temperature.
But if we compare hot water and boiling water, then boiling water is at higher temperature and thus, will absorb a greater amount of heat energy converting the water into steam. Thus, the best candidate for extinguishing a fire quickly is the boiling water.

So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note:
It should be noted that there are other possible options also which can be used for extinguishing fire. In order to create a fire, we require three important ingredients which are oxygen for combustion, fuel to set fire to and the heat energy to sustain fire. If any one of these requirements is removed from a fire then it will get extinguished easily.