Multiple choice

Which gas is used to extinguish fire?

  1. Oxygen

  2. Hydrogen

  3. Carbon dioxide

  4. Methane

  5. Carbon monoxide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than oxygen, so it creates a blanket around the burning fuel and displaces the oxygen surrounding the fuel. In a carbon dioxide extinguisher, the carbon dioxide is kept in pressurised liquid form in the cylinder. When the container is opened, the carbon dioxide expands to form a gas in the atmosphere or to simplify, it removes oxygen from the fire triangle, to smother it and extinguish it.

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