Which extinguisher is commonly a dry chemical type?

• A. Class D extinguisher
• B. Class K extinguisher
• C. Wet chemical extinguisher
• D. Multipurpose extinguisher

Answer: (D)

The multipurpose extinguisher is commonly a dry chemical type because it’s built for a wide range of fires (ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and energized electrical equipment). The dry chemical powder, usually monoammonium phosphate, works by interrupting the chemical reactions occurring in the flame and coating surfaces to prevent reignition, making it effective across multiple fire classes. This versatility is why dry chemical is the standard choice for general-use extinguishers.

Other options are more specialized: metal fires (Class D) use a specific dry powder for those metals, kitchen oils (Class K) require a wet chemical agent, and a wet chemical extinguisher itself is not dry chemical.