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 (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