Carbon dioxide has characteristic properties which are used in the technical applications. For example the flame-smothering effect of the carbon dioxide is used for firefighting. In foam extinguishers carbon dioxide is produced and sprayed as a foam into the burning substances to smother the flames (by displacement of atmospheric oxygen). In this experiment students construct the model of a fire extinguisher. The carbon dioxide forms (prepared by the reaction from sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid) a foam (with some drops of soap) which is sprayed on burning fuel and the flame (by displacement of oxygen) is smothered.

Learning objectives

• Principle of an fire-extinguisher
• Properties of Carbon dioxide

Benefits

• Easy teaching and efficient learning by using interactive experimentation PHYWE-Software
• Experiment is part of a complete solution set with experiments for all Inorganic Chemistry matched with international curriculum: all topics are covered