Why are laboratory fire not extinguished by adding water

Explain why, fire caused by electricity should not be extinguished by pouring water. asked in Chemistry by Renu01 ( 52.7k points) combustion and flame

Best answer. Sodium reacts violently with water. `Na+H_(2)O rarr NaOH+H_(2)uarr`. thus producing sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. As `H_(2)` gas is inflammable, it catches fire. As a result, the fire spreads. Therefore, water should not be used to extinguish the fire caused by sodium (insted `C CI_(4)` should be used).

Fire Hazards in the Laboratory – Lab-Training.com

Damage and destruction resulting from fire. Compensation for loss of life or injury to laboratory employees or third parties. Damage or spoilage cost of goods by means used for extinguishing the fire. Breakage of furniture or other articles in the process of removal from site of fire accident. Damage to adjacent buildings during firefighting …

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Sodium fire in the laboratory should not be extinguished by pouring water because sodium has a strong affinity for water. Thus, reaction between sodium and water is very violent and it results in the formation of hydrogen gas. Also, it is known that hydrogen is highly combustible therefore, it readily catches fire. As a result, fire will spread more rapidly in the laboratory.

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How to avoid laboratory fire accidents?

Losses resulting from laboratory fire accidents can be of enormous magnitude and though insurance helps in partial relief it is best to avoid such situations through proper training of all laboratory personal on handling of hazardous combustible materials and use of firefighting equipment.

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Do You need fire insurance for your laboratory?

Fires pose a major hazard in laboratories and the need for fire insurance was stressed upon in an earlier article on laboratory insurance. In this article a brief is provided on what insurance companies cover under fire insurance and more important the awareness on fire risks and how to prevent fire mishaps.

How does a fire extinguisher work?

A fire essentially results from a combination of three entities – combustible material, oxidant and heat source. All the three are necessary to support and propagate a fire. A fire extinguisher serves to block the contact of the combustible material with air that supports combustion Carbon dioxide after de-energizing circuit.

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What is an example of a flammable liquid?

Flammable liquids are volatile in nature and liberate vapours at ambient or elevated temperatures that can ignite in presence of sparks, hot plates, naked flames or other hot surfaces. Examples: acetone, ether, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, alcohols, cyclohexanone, etc

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Reference:
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher

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