Question

One of the reactions used to inflate automobile airbags involves sodium azide (NaN3): 2NaN3(s) ⇨ 2Na(s) + 3N2(g)Determine the mass of N2 produced from the decomposition of NaN3 shown at right

Answer 1

Step 1

The reaction provided:

2 NaN3 (s) ⇨ 2 Na (s) + 3 N2 (g) (completed and balanced)

---------------------

Step 2

Information provided:

100.0 g NaN3 decomposes

-----

Information needed:

The molar masses of:

NaN3) 65.00 g/mol

N2) 28.00

(please, the periodic table is useful here)

---------------------

Step 3

Procedure

By stoichiometry,

2 NaN3 (s) ⇨ 2 Na (s) + 3 N2 (g)

2 x 65.00 g NaN3 ----------------- 3 x 28.00 g N2

100.0 g NaN3 ----------------- X

X = 100.0 g NaN3 x 3 x 28.00 g N2/2 x 65.00 g NaN3

X = 64.62 g

Answer: 64.62 g of N2 produced