Sodium azide is used in air bags as a propellant to rapidly inflate the air bag in the event of a collision. When the azide is ignited, it decomposes to form nitrogen gas, which inflates the air bag quickly and effectively to protect occupants in the vehicle.
The word equation for when sodium is heated in air is: sodium + oxygen → sodium oxide.
Sodium metal reacts with oxygen in the air to form sodium oxide.
When sodium is burned with air, the product formed is sodium oxide (Na2O). This reaction typically produces a white residue consisting of sodium oxide.
Sodium tarnishes when exposed to air because it reacts with oxygen to form sodium oxide. This tarnish layer can then react with moisture in the air to form sodium hydroxide, which gives it a dull appearance.
Sodium azide
Sodium azide is used in air bags as a propellant to rapidly inflate the air bag in the event of a collision. When the azide is ignited, it decomposes to form nitrogen gas, which inflates the air bag quickly and effectively to protect occupants in the vehicle.
When nitrogen gas reacts with sodium, it forms sodium nitride (Na3N).
The mechanism for the airbag contains sodium azide (NaN3). In the event of an accident, the sodium azide rapidly decomposes into sodium metal and nitrogen gas. The latter fills the airbag.
Initially, air bags contain sodium azide (NaN3), which is ignited to produce nitrogen gas and sodium. The nitrogen gas is what inflates the air bag. Another reaction occurs, including sodium and potassium nitrate which produce more nitrogen gas, potassium oxide and sodium oxide. Potassium oxide and sodium oxide are quite harmful, so they are then neutralized with silicon dioxide to produce silica glass (K4SiO4 and Na4SiO4).
Azide is a word that is commonly used in the chemistry world, more specifically, in organic chemistry. It is a proponent used in air bags (which are found in vehicles).
Nitrogen gas which is created by mixing sodium azide with potassium nitrate which produces the nitrogen.
The amount of sodium metal produced can be calculated using the law of conservation of mass. The total mass of products (nitrogen gas and sodium metal) should equal the initial mass of sodium azide. In this case, 500g of sodium azide decomposes to form 323.20g of nitrogen gas and 176.80g of sodium metal. Therefore, 176.80g of sodium metal is produced.
Sodium azide is an explosive. If it is struck hard enough, has a sufficiently high voltage applied across it, or if it is heated to a certain high temperature, then it will explode. The reaction for the explosive decomposition of sodium azide is: 2NaN3 ---> 2Na + 3N2. As you can see, a small amount of sodium azide solid decomposes very fast to give a lot of nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas is what fills up the car's airbag. A sensor, in the form of an accelerometer, tells one of a car's computers whether the car hit something hard enough to cause the driver to hit his head on the steering wheel or even the windshield (if the driver is not wearing his seatbelt). If the computer determines that the impact was hard enough, then a fuse is lit which leads to a plug of compressed sodium azide powder which then explodes. As you can imagine, the fuse is very short. Because the sodium azide explodes, the airbag is filled almost instantly. For an airbag to potentially save your life or keep you from receiving a serious head injury, it is very important for everyone to wear their seat belts.
Callod sodium acid ( NaN3 )
An impact detector sends an electric signal to an igniter which causes sodium azide (NaN3) to generate nitrogen gas. The air bag is filled by the nitrogen gas.
It depends on your car and model if the air bags will deploy if the car's engine is off but the air bags are still activated as long as it is still connected to the battery.