Project information:

School name: Mentor College

Student: Ton Quan Ve

Team size: 1

Grade category: 10 - 12

Project title: Fire Retardant Paint

Project type: Experimental

Subject area: Chemistry

Abstract: Fire is the third leading cause of accidental deaths in United States and Canada. It is a chemical reaction involving oxidation or burning of fuel. As we know water, foam, halon, carbon dioxide are some common fire extinguishers. The problem is how these substances can be released immediately to put out fire. By exploring about methods to release CO₂ immediately, I am aware that using Potassium bicarbonate and Sodium bicarbonate to release CO₂ quickly at the presence of fire can extinguish the flame. Moreover, if KHCO₃ and NaHCO₃ can be combined with household paint, it could serve safety precaution for homes. If a house were to catch on fire, the fire resistant walls will contain the flame itself and prevent it from spreading to other rooms or houses. This experiment is to test the possibility of adding KHCO₃, NaHCO₃ in paint which contains organic compounds and its fire- extinguished characteristic. If these compounds can be successfully added to paint without producing any by- product, this new fire retardant and resistant paint can save a lot of lives and diminish damages caused by fire.