David+Sabotta

=//Effect of Acid and Base Combinations on Extinguishing Flames//=

Problem: What acid and base combination would be the best for extinguishing a flame?

Introduction: The creation of this experiment is to test the effectiveness of two acid and base combinations other than baking soda and vinegar. By conducting this experiment and using two different combinations, the hope is to discover out of those two, one acid and base combination the world could use to help put out fires of any form. The hope is that in the process, the findings could help discover a combination that is more cost-effective, easier to use, and eco-friendly than a traditional fire-extinguisher. While the theory only works in a water-like environment, the acids used give some of their hydrogen ions to bases and the bases accept the hydrogen ions given by the acids (Acid, Time Saving 2013). Most models of fire extinguishers contain elements such as water, foam, powder or carbon dioxide (Student, 2013). These are known as stored pressure fire extinguishers (How, 2013). If someone wanted to cool a fire, then the elements to use would be water, foam, or carbon dioxide (Student, 2013). However, it would be just as effective if someone wanted to smother a fire, except for the water (Student, 2013). Typically, a handheld fire extinguisher is designed to distribute it's fire-fighting mixture, while pressured by carbon dioxide or nitrogen, onto a flame (What, 2013). In order to extinguish a flame, one part of what is commonly called "The Fire Triangle", must be taken away (How Does, 2013). The three sides of the Triangle are fuel, heat, and oxidizer (How Does, 2013). In order to create a fire, there must be three things present: a substance that can be broken down by heat into an unstable compound, enough heat to cause that substance to burn into a gas or a vapor that has unstable compounds called "free radicals", and an oxidizer that will react with the broken down parts of fuels in reactions in an exothermic reaction (How Does, 2013). The water in a fire extinguisher absorbs the heat so as to not act as a fuel to produce more free radicals that react to the present oxidizer (How Does, 2013). This, in turn, extinguishes a flame, so that it cannot cause any more damage to its surroundings. It's also known that just squeezing the lever and applying constant pressure to hold it down to extinguishes a flame. The best possible way to make sure a fire is put out safely and effectively is to use the PASS System. The P stands for "pull the pin", A for "aim at the base of the fire", S for "squeeze the lever slowly", and S for "sweep from side to side" (Fire, 2013). Considering that this experiment will be testing the effectiveness of acid and base combinations on the fire, it seems best to use the PASS System.

Hypothesis: If a solution is an acid and base solution, then it will extinguish a flame based on the components of "The Fire Triangle".

Materials:
 * 100 ml of Hydrochloric and Sulfuric Acid 100 ml at 1.5M
 * 6 g of Sodium Hydroxide (to mix with hydrochloric acid), 11 g of Calcium Hydroxide (to mix with sulfuric acid)
 * Spray bottles
 * Latex gloves
 * Beakers
 * Stopwatch
 * Protective glasses
 * Matches
 * Aluminum pie plate(s)
 * Paper, tape, and pen
 * Scale
 * Plastic Scale Weight-boats
 * Deionized Water (used by teacher)
 * Pipette Safety Filler (used by teacher, maybe)
 * Volumetric Flask (used by teacher, maybe)
 * Graduated Cylinders (used by teacher)

Budget Estimate (with tax included) > (respectively) Total Estimated Cost: $291.17
 * Hydrochloric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide= $22.34 for Normal 1.0 500mL (16.9 oz. and shipping fee included), about $65.00 for 500mL (16 oz., shipping fee included) (respectively)
 * Sulfuric Acid and Calcium Hydroxide= 1.0 Normal Sulfuric Acid=$10.98 for 500mL (16.9 oz. and no shipping fee), $10.49 for 16 oz, no shipping fee)
 * One Bunsen Burner=$6.64
 * Two Empty Spray Bottles=to hold 32 oz, $5.00 each ($10.00)
 * One Pair of Latex Gloves=$13.84
 * Four Beakers=$5.95 each ($19.04)
 * One Stopwatch=N/A
 * One Pair of Protective Glasses=$4.96
 * One Box of Matches=$2.68
 * One Aluminum Pie Pan=$34.18 (pack of 100)
 * Paper, Tape, and Pen=$33.47 (all together)
 * Large Graduated Cylinder=$7.50 for a 500mL Plastic Graduated Cylinder
 * Scale=$4.73 for a 100 Gram Readability Digital Pocket Scale
 * Deionized Water=$18.72 for a Hanna Instrument Deionized Water, 3.78 Liter Bottle
 * Big Pipette=$16.70 for a Safety Pipette Filler
 * Volumetric Flask=$4.95 for a 100 ml Volumetric Flask made of Borisilicate Glass
 * Plastic Scale Weight-boats=$4.95 for a pack of 100

Methods: 1) For safety reasons, put on your gloves to prevent the solutions from spilling onto your hands and your safety goggles to protect your eyes from the solutions, as well as their fumes. 2) Label the four beakers by writing the names of each substance on a small piece of paper using a pen, apply pieces of tape to the sides of the paper, and put them on the beaker of your choice. 3) Label one sprayer "Hydrochloric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide". Write the name on a small piece of paper using a pen, apply pieces of tape to the sides of the paper, and put it on one of the sprayers. 4) Label your second sprayer "Sulfuric Acid and Calcium Hydroxide". Write the name on a small piece of paper using a pen, apply pieces of tape to the sides of the paper, and put it on the other sprayer. 5) Using the large graduated cylinder, measure out 100 ml of the hydrochloric acid and 100 ml of the sulfuric acid, and place them in their respective beakers. 6) Make sure to thoroughly wash out the graduated cylinder before proceeding to the next step. 7) Using the scale and scale weight-boats, measure out 6 g of the sodium hydroxide and 11 g of the calcium hydroxide, and place them in their respective beakers. 8) Make sure to use a different tray for each substance you weigh on the scale. 9) Place an aluminum pie plate on a hard surface so it can catch the excess solution. 10) Once all of this has been completed, you can now take out the 100 ml of your hydrochloric acid from its beaker and the 6 g of the sodium hydroxide from its beaker. 11) Carefully pour the hydrochloric acid in the sprayer labeled "Hydrochloric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide" and set it off to the side. 12) Next, take out the 100 ml of your sulfuric acid from its beaker and the 11 g of the calcium hydroxide from its beaker. 13) Carefully pour the sulfuric acid in the sprayer labeled "Sulfuric Acid and Calcium Hydroxide" and set it off to the side, cap it as well. 14) Set the containers containing the remaining sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide off to the side, you won't need them anymore. 15) Next, light a match and use it to light a piece of notebook paper, that should be laid over the center of your pie plate. 16) Quickly, take the sprayer that contains the 100 ml of hydrochloric acid, pour the 6 g of sodium hydroxide into it, hold at least three inches away from the flame, and pump quickly using the PASS Method to try to extinguish the flame. 17) Hold the stopwatch in your free hand and time how long it takes the solution to extinguish the flame, from initiation to execution, //**and** **how many times** **you had to pump the sprayer.**// 18) Once completed, record your data and observations in a copy of the data table below in your Comp. book. 19) Repeat Steps 15 - 19 with the 100ml of sulfuric acid and 11 g calcium hydroxide combination.

Data: This is my //**preliminary**// data table: 6 g || 1.5 M || 1.5 M || Trial 1: Trial 2: || Trial 1: Trial 2: || Trial 1: Trial 2: || 11 g || 1.5 M || 1.5 M || Trial 1: Trial 2: || Trial 1: Trial 2: || Trial 1: Trial 2: ||
 * **Reactions of Acid and Base Combinations** ||
 * **Acid, Amount** || **Base, Amount** || **Trial 1** || **Trial 2** || **Reaction Observations** || **Time to Put Out Flame** || **Number of Times Sprayer Was Pumped** ||
 * Hydrochloric, 100ml, 1.5M || Sodium Hydroxide,
 * Sulfuric, 100 ml, 1.5M || Calcium Hydroxide,

This is my data table //**after**// the experiment: 6 g ||= 1.5M ||= 1.5M ||= Trial 1: Flame created small hole in center of paper, hole was black on edges, bottom of bottle became warm Trial 2: Flame created even smaller hole in paper, hole was black on edges, bottom of bottle was still warm ||= Trial 1: about 18.93 seconds, didn't stop as soon as flame was extinguished Trial 2: about 14-15 seconds, didn't stop as soon as flame was extinguished ||= Trial 1: 7 Trial 2: 7 || 100 ml, 1.5M ||= Calcium Hydroxide, 11 g ||= 1.5M ||= 1.5M ||= Trial 1: Actual-size fire, extinguished itself with help from vent hood because couldn't get combination out of bottle, bottom of bottle became warm Trial 2: Much more contained fire, spray bottle actually worked, hole was black around the edges ||= Trial 1: about 1 min, didn't stop as soon as flame was extinguished Trial 2: about 16-17 seconds, didn't stop as soon as flame was extinguished ||= Trial 1: 96 Trial 2: 10 (got rid of all embers) || Analysis: As you can see from my table,
 * = **Reactions of Acid and Base Combinations** ||
 * = **Acid, Amount** ||= **Base, Amount** ||= **Trial 1** ||= **Trial 2** ||= **Reaction Observations** ||= **Time to Put Out Flame** ||= **Number of Times Sprayer Was Pumped** ||
 * = Hydrochloric, 100 ml, 1.5M ||= Sodium Hydroxide,
 * = Sulfuric,

Conclusion:

Limitations:

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