Exams › JEE Main › Chemistry

Carbon dioxide and nitrogen do not support combustion. Yet carbon dioxide is chosen over nitrogen for extinguishing fires because carbon dioxide

1. does not itself burn
2. produces non-combustible substances with materials that are burning
3. has a greater density than nitrogen
4. is chemically more reactive

Correct answer: has a greater density than nitrogen

Solution

CO2 (M=44) is denser than N2 (M=28), so it settles over the flames and excludes oxygen. It is chosen for its density, not because it is more reactive (it is inert).

Related JEE Main Chemistry questions

• Which of the following arrangements shows the decreasing order of acidic nature?
• Which one of the following oxides shows amphoteric behaviour?
• In boric acid (H₃BO₃), the hybridization states of the boron atom and the oxygen atoms are, respectively,
• A xenon fluoride compound contains 53.5% xenon by mass. What oxidation state does xenon have in this compound?
• For a cement of good quality, what should be the approximate ratios of the following? I. Silica to alumina II. CaO to the combined oxides of SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3
• Because the ns² electrons of the valence shell do not readily take part in bonding, which statement is correct?

⚔️ Practice JEE Main Chemistry free + battle 1v1 →