Answer :
Final answer:
A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, classified as 'Class B', is mainly used on flammable liquid fires. The state of CO2 in the extinguisher shifts with the environmental temperature and isn't effective on magnesium fires.
Explanation:
The class of fire extinguisher that uses carbon dioxide is referred to as a 'Class B' extinguisher. These are designed to handle fires involving flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, and solvents. Carbon dioxide extinguishers work by displacing the oxygen that the fire needs to burn, effectively suffocating it. They also have a cooling effect on the fire due to the low temperature of the CO2.
It's worth noting that the state of CO2 in the extinguisher can depend on the ambient temperature. On a cool day, liquid CO2 might be present inside the extinguisher because the temperature is below CO2's critical temperature of 31°C (304 K). However, on a hot day with temperatures surpassing this threshold, no amount of pressure can keep the CO2 in a liquid state.
Still, CO2 extinguishers do have limitations. For instance, they are not effective on magnesium fires. The chemical reaction 2Mg(s) + CO2(g) → 2MgO(s) + C(s) shows that magnesium can actually continue to burn in the presence of CO2.
Learn more about Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher here:
https://brainly.com/question/35713527
#SPJ11
