Which extinguishing agent has a greater heat-absorbing capacity than most others?

Water is known for its high heat-absorbing capacity, primarily due to its specific heat, which is around 4.18 J/g°C. This means that water can absorb a significant amount of heat before its temperature rises, making it highly effective in cooling down fires. When water is applied to a fire, it absorbs heat from the flames and the surrounding materials, which helps to lower the temperature of the burning fuel below its ignition point, thus extinguishing the fire.

In addition to its heat-absorbing properties, water also provides a cooling effect and can help to reduce smoke production during fire suppression. Because of these characteristics, water is often the preferred extinguishing agent for various types of fires, particularly those involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and textiles.

While other extinguishing agents like foam, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical agents are useful for specific types of fires, they do not match the heat-absorbing capacity of water. Foam is effective for flammable liquids and can also cool through thermal expansion, but it does not absorb heat at the same level as water. Carbon dioxide works by displacing oxygen and cooling slightly upon release but isn’t as effective in heat absorption. Dry chemical agents interrupt the combustion reaction but