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

Explanation

Saline hydrides react with water violently to form the corresponding metal hydroxide, thereby liberating dihydrogen gas, e.g.,
`NaH_((s))+H_(2)O_((l))rarr NaOH_((aq))+H_(2(g))`
These reactions are highly exothermic and `H_(2)` thus evolved catches fire. The fire, thus produced cannot be extinguished by `CO_(2)`, as it gets reduced by the hot metal hydride to form metal formate. To extinguish such type of fire, sand can be used, since it is a highly stable solid.
`NaH+CO_(2)rarr underset("sodium formate")(HCOONa)`