Compressed air = fire extinguisher?

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
1
0
I'm pretty sure this stuff is liquified CO2. Can it be used to put out fires?

I think I'll go try...
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
co2 can be used to put out fire. liquid co2 released = cold, and it forms a layer which cuts off the fire from air
 
Apr 5, 2000
13,256
1
0
"...however, it may ignite under certain conditions...Do not expose to heat, open flame..."

What's written on my can. I know other cans have said stuff like "flameable" or something. If the can explodes and you die, I call dibs on your 240
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
1
0
I tried it.. the stuff is not flammable, but it doesn't put out the flames either. It may just be mixing with air afte rleaving the can. Turning it upside down seems to work better though.
 

clicknext

Banned
Mar 27, 2002
3,884
0
0
Are you sure all compressed air is made of the same stuff? Maybe some is made of CO2 and some O2.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
a lot of compressed air you buy is mostly freon like stuff so not really "air" which is mostly nitroge

some use co2 ("more expensive)_


n
ot sure if any use real air


this is 4 canned
 

boi

Golden Member
Apr 12, 2002
1,695
0
0
I used my compressed air as a flamethrower. Roasts ants in an instant:)
 

theNEOone

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
5,745
4
81
well compressed air is exactly what it sounds like. they take air from outside and compress it into a container. it does have some CO2, but it's mostly O2 and N2 (something like 80% N2). look up the compositions in some geology book. most of the "compressed air" you buy in small cans at OM or staples aren't really compressed air. it's some chemical reaction that occurs in the can that releases some gas as a product. i'm not really sure what the reaction is or what gas is released, but more likely than not, it's a single gas rather than the mixture you find in real compressed air.
 

Wintermute76

Senior member
Jan 8, 2003
364
0
0
If you have N2, O2 and CO2 in the can , what's going to come out is N2, O2 and CO2, it won't react unless you put some energy into it, like burning it.

I"d look in a chemistry book, not a geology book......;)
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
5,471
2
0
Maybe it was Halon.

Half-pound Halon extinguishers are now over US$100.00 ...

Whatever

Scott


 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
Originally posted by: theNEOone
compressed air isn't CO2. it's actually O2 and (mostly) N2
Chemistry....[ F- ]. :disgust:

CO2 is a molecule composed of one carbon (C) atom and two oxygen (O) atoms. There is absolutely NO nitrogen (N) lurking about. CO2 extinguishes fires because it is not flamible and flooding the area with it deprives the fire of oxygen.
 

theNEOone

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
5,745
4
81
Originally posted by: Harvey
Originally posted by: theNEOone
compressed air isn't CO2. it's actually O2 and (mostly) N2
Chemistry....[ F- ]. :disgust:

CO2 is a molecule composed of one carbon (C) atom and two oxygen (O) atoms. There is absolutely NO nitrogen (N) lurking about. CO2 extinguishes fires because it is not flamible and flooding the area with it deprives the fire of oxygen.



i know what CO2 is, but apparently you don't know what compressed air is. i'm a molecular biology major and i know more complicated molecules than you could possibly imagine. you failed to understand what i was trying to convey. i was simply pointing out the fact that "compressed air" is not CO2 (carbon dioxide). compressed air is actually compsed of the diatomic counterparts of oxygen and nitrogen, and trace amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide. the chemical composition of the stratosphere (the part of the atmosphere that we live, breath, and eat) is compsed primarily of nitrogen, smart guy. compressed air is that same air, just pressurized in a canister.

Here you go

Nitrogen: 75.5%
Oxygen: 23.3%
CO2: .045%


"There is absolutely NO nitrogen (N) lurking about."

You were saying? And by the way, nitrogen exists as a diatomic molecule in its gaseous state, i.e. "N2", not "N".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hardware_Abruzzi

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
Originally posted by: theNEOone
i know what CO2 is, but apparently you don't know what compressed air is.

And by the way, nitrogen exists as a diatomic molecule in its gaseous state, i.e. "N2", not "N".
Oops. Misread your post. :eek:

Do I have to breath pure CO2, or can I stick with air? ;)

And by the way, I know it exists as a diatomic molecule, but not in N02, as in "Just say NO2 gas!" :)
 

TNTrulez

Banned
Aug 3, 2001
2,804
0
0
Originally posted by: Harvey
Originally posted by: theNEOone
compressed air isn't CO2. it's actually O2 and (mostly) N2
Chemistry....[ F- ]. :disgust:

CO2 is a molecule composed of one carbon (C) atom and two oxygen (O) atoms. There is absolutely NO nitrogen (N) lurking about. CO2 extinguishes fires because it is not flamible and flooding the area with it deprives the fire of oxygen.

Lol. Check your facts next time before flaming.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
heres a short story....i have a candle on my desk...was too drunk to blow it out...saw the can of compressed air....next thing I know I got a ball of flames 3 feet high shootin out of the candle and wax on everything...please dont try this at home
 

Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
81
All the cans of air I have around are flammable......yes you could find that out by reading the label, but I say have some fun and test it out (preferably not near the drapes or cat).
 

dejitaru

Banned
Sep 29, 2002
627
0
0
I'm pretty sure this stuff is liquified CO2. Can it be used to put out fires?
Pretty sure? You should verify before trying. CO2 would put out fires, but oxygen would do just the opposite.
Are you sure all compressed air is made of the same stuff? Maybe some is made of CO2 and some O2.
Oxygen would make the fire burn much more quickly. That is not what you wouild want in an extinguisher.
I wonder what that fire icon with the line striking through the middle means?
Electrical fires. The stuff is non-conductive.
Inflammable means Flammable?? What a country!
Right. But what does nonflammable mean? :p
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
my guess is that the cans are sensitive to heat. why bother when fire extinguishers are so cheap anways. if u don't already have one.. get one
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
my guess is that the cans are sensitive to heat. why bother when fire extinguishers are so cheap anways. if u don't already have one.. get one

I just use spit
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
heres a short story....i have a candle on my desk...was too drunk to blow it out...saw the can of compressed air....next thing I know I got a ball of flames 3 feet high shootin out of the candle and wax on everything...please dont try this at home
:D

Pics?