Sodium Azide

NaN₃

IUPAC: Sodium azide

CAS: 26628-22-8

Overview

Sodium azide is a white crystalline salt that decomposes rapidly when heated, producing nitrogen gas. This property makes it the primary propellant in automotive airbags — when a collision is detected, an electric spark ignites sodium azide, inflating the airbag with N₂ in milliseconds.

Composition

Element Symbol Atoms Atomic Mass
Nitrogen N 3 14.0070
Sodium Na 1 22.9900

Elemental Composition

N
Nitrogen ×3
64.6%
Na
Sodium ×1
35.4%

Uses

  • • Automotive airbag propellant
  • • Biocide in hospitals and laboratories
  • • Preservative in stock solutions
  • • Synthesis intermediate

Fun Facts

  • ✦ A typical driver's airbag contains about 50-80 g of sodium azide

Safety

  • ⚠ Highly toxic if ingested
  • ⚠ Produces toxic HN₃ with acids
  • ⚠ Explosive when heated or shocked

Structure

SMILES

[N-]=[N+]=[N-].[Na+]

Properties

Type
salt
State
solid
Molar Mass
65.01 g/mol
Density
1.8460 g/cm³
Melting Point
275.0 °C
Solubility
417 g/L at 17°C

Molecular Descriptors

Exact Mass
64.9990
TPSA
3.0 Ų
H-Bond Donors
0
H-Bond Acceptors
2
Rotatable Bonds
0
Heavy Atoms
4
Complexity
15.0

Also Known As

Sodium azide

Related Compounds

Ammonium Bicarbonate

NH₄HCO₃

Ammonium Chloride

NH₄Cl

Ammonium Sulfate

(NH₄)₂SO₄

Barium Carbonate

BaCO₃

Barium Chloride

BaCl₂

Barium Sulfate

BaSO₄

Cadmium Sulfide

CdS

Calcium Acetate

Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂

Calcium Carbonate

CaCO₃

Calcium Citrate

Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sodium Azide?
Sodium Azide (NaN₃) is a salt compound with the IUPAC name Sodium azide.
What is the molecular weight of Sodium Azide?
Sodium Azide has a molar mass of 65.01 g/mol.
What state is Sodium Azide at room temperature?
Sodium Azide is a solid at room temperature.
Is Sodium Azide organic or inorganic?
Sodium Azide is classified as an inorganic compound.
What elements make up Sodium Azide?
Sodium Azide (NaN₃) is composed of Nitrogen (N), Sodium (Na).