How does sodium azide work in airbags?
Sodium azide is best known as the chemical found in automobile airbags. An electrical charge triggered by automobile impact causes sodium azide to explode and convert to nitrogen gas inside the airbag. In one case, sodium azide was poured into a drain, where it exploded and the toxic gas was inhaled (breathed in).
What chemical reaction takes place in an airbag?
The answer would be found in a fascinating chemical called sodium azide, NaN3. When this substance is ignited by a spark it releases nitrogen gas which can instantly inflate an airbag.
What explosive is used in airbags?
The airbag’s inflation system reacts sodium azide (NaN3) with potassium nitrate (KNO3) to produce nitrogen gas. Hot blasts of the nitrogen inflate the airbag.
How can airbags be improved?
Seat sensors in some systems also can detect the weight of passengers and deploy only if the occupant is above a certain weight – helping to prevent airbag-related injuries to a child or small adult. These technology advances are all part of an effort to improve airbag safety and benefits.
What gas is produced in the chemical reaction?
Many reactions produce a gas such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, or sulfur dioxide. Cake batter rising is caused by a gas-forming reaction between an acid and baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate).
Why do airbags smell bad?
When an airbag deploys, it is a startling and sometimes frightening situation. The airbag deploys so suddenly that it can almost feel like your initial collision. It makes a loud pop and emits a very distinct smell of burnt rubber or fabric. It is common to sustain minor burns from airbags as well.
Is sodium azide stable?
Sodium azide, and other alkali metal azides, are generally stable unless heated to above their melting points (275°C for sodium azide) where they rapidly decompose to release nitrogen gas. The lower the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in a compound, the more likely it is to exhibit explosive properties.
Is sodium azide a hazardous waste?
Sodium azide is classified as a p-listed waste by the Environmental Protection Agency. Wipe all materials and surfaces used to work with sodium azide down with soap and water solution (pH of 9), paper towels and then ethanol. All the clean-up materials should be disposed of as a solid hazardous waste.
Why is sodium azide used in air bags?
Sodium azide is best known as the chemical found in automobile airbags. An electrical charge triggered by automobile impact causes sodium azide to explode and convert to nitrogen gas inside the airbag. Sodium azide is used as a chemical preservative in hospitals and laboratories. Accidents have occurred in these settings.
How does sodium azide work in air bags?
The chemical at the heart of the air bag reaction is called sodium azide, or NaN 3. CRASHES trip sensors in cars that send an electric signal to an ignitor. The heat generated causes sodium azide to decompose into sodium metal and nitrogen gas, which inflates the car’s air bags. Under normal circumstances, this molecule is quite stable.
What is sodium azide used for?
Sodium azide is commonly used as a bacteriostatic preservative for biological samples and also as a source to generate gas in automobile airbags.
Is sodium azide reactive?
Sodium azide is a colorless crystalline inorganic salt. It is a very reactive and highly toxic chemical. Sodium azide decomposes oexplosively upon shock, concussion, heating (>275 C), or friction. Sodium azide reacts with various metals to form shock-sensitive compounds.