Question

A factory that specializes in the refinement of transition metals such as titanium was on fire. The firefighters were advised not to douse the fire with water. Why?

Short answer

Firefighters were advised not to douse the fire with water because water can react with burning titanium, producing hydrogen gas which is highly flammable and could potentially cause an explosion.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying Chemical Properties of Transition Metals

Titanium is a transition metal. One of the defining chemical properties of transition metals is their ability to form stable compounds with other elements due to their variable oxidation state. In certain conditions, titanium can react with water.

Understanding the Reaction Between Titanium and Water

The reaction of titanium with water is quite exothermic, meaning it releases a considerable amount of energy. More importantly, this reaction could produce hydrogen gas which is highly flammable.

Connecting the Chemical Reaction to the Firefighting Situation

In the context of a fire, dousing the burning titanium with water could catalyze the formation of hydrogen gas, which might result in an explosion due to the intense heat, thus escalating the fire instead of putting it out.