Question

Sodium azide is stable at room temperature but decomposes quickly at temperatures above 300°C. It is moderately inexpensive to manufacture but is highly toxic. Read this article on the effects of undeployed airbags. Based on the article, does sodium azide seem like a good match for the criteria and constraints you listed in part A? In what ways is sodium azide a good choice for an airbag design, and in what ways is it not?
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Answer 1

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. If heated, though, it will fall apart.Eating as little as 50 milligrams (less than two-thousandths of an ounce) of sodium azide can lead to collapse and a coma-like state within five minutes as blood pressure plummets and heart rate skyrockets. Ingest a few grams, and death occurs within 40 minutes.To prevent microbial contamination, sodium azide can be added to an antibody preparation to a final concentration of 0.02% (w/v). Many Abcam antibodies already contain this preservative at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.05%. This will be indicated on the datasheets in the section titled “Storage buffer”Sodium azide is highly toxic. Ingestion of 100 to 200 mg can result in headache, respiratory distress, and diarrhea. Target organs are the central nervous system and the brain.Heavy metal azides, such as lead azide are primary high explosives detonable when heated or shaken. Heavy-metal azides are formed when solutions of sodium azide or HN3 vapors come into contact with heavy metals or their salts.