Saline hydrides are known to react with water violently poducing fire. Can CO_(2) , a well known fire entingiusher, be used in this case? Explain .

Saline hydrides are known to react with water violently poducing fire.

1.	Saline hydrides are known to react with water violently poducing fire. Can CO_(2) , a well known fire entingiusher, be used in this case? Explain .
Answer» Solution :Saline hydrides (such as NaH, `CaH_(2)`, etc.) , react with water violently to form the corresponding metal hydroides with the evolution of dihyrogen . (`NaH(s) + H_(2)O(l) to NaOH(aq) + H_(2)(g)` `CaH_(2)(s) + 2H_(2)O(l) to Ca(OH)_(2) (aq) +2H_(2)(g)` These REACTIONS are so much exothermic that the evolved `H_(2)` catches fire. The fire so produced cannot be extinguished by`CO_(2)` because it gets reduced by the HOT metal hydride to form sodiym FORMATE. `NaH+ CO_(2) to HCOONa` `However, sand is useful since it is a highly STABLE solid