THE USE OF BAKING SODA, COMMON SALT, AND VINEGAR AS FIRE EXTINGUISHER

In Partial Fulfilment for the Requirements in Research II

Researchers

Verchiel B. Cubelo
Ma. Rena N. Catoltol
Nathaniel L. Perol

S.Y. 2014-2015

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Nature and Importance of the Study Fire is a reaction involving fuel and oxygen that produces heat and light. Humans use fire to warm themselves and to cook food, and to start a fire, we commonly use lighters and matches, unlike the early humans who rub sticks or rocks. Today, people naturally focus not on starting fire but on using it productively and on preventing or extinguishing unwanted fires using fire extinguishers. These are portable devices used to put out fires of limited size. Such fires are limited into four classes, according to the type of material that is burning. Class A fires include those in which ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, and paper are burning. Class B fires are those in which flammable liquids, oils, and grease are burning. Class C fires are those involving live electrical equipment. Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, potassium and sodium. Each class of fire requires its own type of fire extinguisher. This study focuses on the use of common salt (sodium chloride), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and vinegar (acetic acid) as fire extinguisher. Vinegar is a liquid consisting mainly of acetic acid (CH3COOH) and water (H2O). The acetic acid is produced by the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. Baking soda, a base, is an amphoteric compound. It is also known as sodium hydrogen bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). It is a white solid crystalline but often appears as a white powder and has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda. It can extinguish fire (grease or electrical) by being