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.
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.
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).
When nitrogen gas reacts with sodium, it forms sodium nitride (Na3N).
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).
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.
Sodium azide in airbags reacts with potassium nitrate to produce nitrogen gas, which inflates the airbag rapidly upon impact. The reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a large amount of gas quickly to create a cushioning effect for passengers in a vehicle collision.
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.
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.
bags that hold evidence. they are air sealed and they are used by authorities