Monoammonium Phosphate - Essay Example

Usually, in powder form, Monoammonium phosphate can effectively extinguish fires because of its solid chemical properties such as its fine particles that can suppress the rapid spread of fire on normal surfaces, that is, surfaces with normal combustibility. Its physical properties also provide an obstruction for oxygen that can feed the fire during combustion.  Fires that involve combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, titanium, and aluminium can be extinguished by a certain type of dry chemical usually in dry powder form but usually fires which belong to classes A, B or C, can be addressed by an extinguisher filled with monoammonium phosphate, though this can be damaging to electrical appliances (Pulp and Paper Health and Safety Association, n.d.).

This due to the fact that dry chemical agents also form a chemical reaction that changes chemical composition with the surface that it comes in contact with.