Dry chemical extinguishes fires primarily by which method?

Dry chemical extinguishers primarily extinguish fires through the method of chain breaking and smothering.

The chain breaking aspect refers to the way that dry chemical agents interrupt the chemical reactions occurring in a fire. When the dry chemical is discharged onto a fire, it reacts with the free radicals that are present in the combustion process, effectively stopping the chain reaction that fuels the fire. This is crucial because, without the continuous chemical reactions, the fire cannot sustain itself and will eventually go out.

Additionally, dry chemicals also act as smothering agents. When the dry chemical is applied, it creates a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen in the environment, which is essential for combustion to occur. By preventing oxygen from reaching the fuel, the fire is deprived of one of its necessary components, further contributing to its extinguishment.

It is important to note that other methods mentioned in the other options, such as cooling and displacement, while relevant to fire extinguishment in general, do not accurately describe the action of dry chemical extinguishers. For example, cooling is primarily achieved through water-based extinguishers that absorb heat, and displacement is often associated with inert gases which push oxygen away from the fuel source. Thus, chain breaking and smothering accurately