Uses of CFCs

• hoay

  29 May 15, 05:45

   Which of the following would be suitable for use in a fire extinguisher? 

  1 CBrF3 

  2 CH3(CH2)5CH2Br 

  3 HCl

   

  What is the criteria of a compound to be used as a fire-extinguisher? I have only heard that HCl can be used to extinguish fire but can it be used as a fire-extinguisher?

• UltimaOnline

  29 May 15, 15:35

  Originally posted by hoay:

   Which of the following would be suitable for use in a fire extinguisher? 

  1 CBrF3 

  2 CH3(CH2)5CH2Br 

  3 HCl

   

  What is the criteria of a compound to be used as a fire-extinguisher? I have only heard that HCl can be used to extinguish fire but can it be used as a fire-extinguisher?

  
  Option 3 HCl being a strongly acidic gas, cannot be used in a fire extinguisher for safety reasons. Option 1 is the best answer. Option 2 isn't as suitable, as it lacks strong C-F bonds (CFCs contain F atoms). The C-Br bond, being weaker, cleaves more readily to generate Br radicals, contributing to ozone layer depletion. Although a Br atom is also present in Option 1, but the Br atom is less likely to cleave in Option 1 due to the greater instability of the methyl radical exacerbated by the 3 electron-withdrawing by induction F atoms.
  
  Fire extinguishers rely on the low toxicity, low reactivity, and low flammability of the CFCs.
• weehunbronze

  31 May 15, 16:46

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