Sodium azide
General
Other names	Sodium trinitride
Molecular formula	NaN3
Molar mass	65.01 g/mol
Appearance	White solid.
CAS number	[26628-22-8]
Properties
Density and phase	1.85 g/cm3, solid
Solubility in water	41.7 g/100 ml (17°C)
Melting point	275°C decomp.
Structure
Coordination geometry	?
Crystal structure	?
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
EU classification	Highly toxic (T+) Dangerous for the environment (N)
NFPA 704
R-phrases	R21, R26, R28, R32, R50, R53
S-phrases	S1, S2, S28, S45, S60, S61
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Other anions	?
Other cations	Potassium azide
Related compounds	Sodium cyanide
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Sodium azide (NaN₃) is a highly toxic chemical that exists as an odorless white solid. Its solution in water is slowly hydrolyzed into a very toxic gas, hydrogen azide (HN₃), which also forms when NaN₃ reacts with a strong acid. It may react with heavy metal ions such as copper, silver or lead to form metal azides which are very unstable, easily synthesized, and highly explosive. Care should be taken when disposing of this material in the presence of elementary metals as it may react with them. After use, this compound should be disposed of in a responsible manner, since it is very harmful to the environment. Image File history File links Sodium_azide. ... A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ... Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a chemical element or chemical compound. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per volume. ... In the physical sciences, a phase is a set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties (i. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Solution. ... Water (H2O, HOH) is the most abundant molecule on Earth, composing 70-75% of the Earths surface as liquid and solid state in addition to being found in the atmosphere as a vapor. ... The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... The coordination geometry of an atom is the geometrical pattern formed by its neighbors in a molecule or a crystal. ... Rose des Sables (Sand Rose), formed of gypsum crystals In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. ... A material safety data sheet or MSDS is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance. ... Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (as amended) is the main source of European Union law concerning chemical safety. ... NFPA 704 is a standard maintained by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association. ... R-phrases are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous substances and preparations. ... S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. ... The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a material is the factor by which the phase velocity of electromagnetic radiation is slowed in that material, relative to its velocity in a vacuum. ... The dielectric constant εr (represented as or K in some cases) is defined as the ratio: where εs is the static permittivity of the material in question, and ε0 is the vacuum permittivity. ... Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy or Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV/ VIS) involves the spectroscopy of photons (spectrophotometry). ... IR spectrum of a thin film of liquid ethanol. ... Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy most commonly known as NMR Spectroscopy is the name given to the technique which exploits the magnetic properties of nuclei. ... Basic schematic of a mass spectrometer Mass spectrometry (also know as mass spectroscopy (incorrect)[1] or in common speech mass-spec) is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. ... An ion is an atom or group of atoms that normally are electrically neutral and achieve their status as an ion by loss (or addition) of an electron. ... An ion is an atom or group of atoms that normally are electrically neutral and achieve their status as an ion by loss (or addition) of an electron. ... Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic chemical compound, also known as sodium salt of hydrocyanic acid and cyanogran. ... In chemistry, the standard state of a material is its state at 1 bar (100 kilopascals) and 25 degrees Celsius (298. ... A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... Hydrazoic acid is a colorless, volatile, and extremely explosive liquid at room temperature and pressure. ... For other uses, see Acid (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Atomic mass 63. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... An azide is the N3- anion, the anion of hydrazoic acid or a reactive group in organic chemistry where a carbon substituent is attached as RN3. ...

When pure, it is a white crystalline solid, odorless, and easily soluble in water. It is slightly soluble in ethanol and starts to decompose vigorously to sodium metal and nitrogen gas at approximately 300 °C. It is very toxic to the aquatic environment, and so the disposal of this substance should be carefully regulated. It should be destroyed by oxidation or reduction before being released to the environment. Impact of a drop of water. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sodium, Na, 11 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 22. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 14. ...

The common synthesis method involves using the Wislicenus process, which first reacts sodium metal, Na, with ammonia, NH₃, to get sodium amide, General Name, Symbol, Number sodium, Na, 11 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 22. ... Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. ... Sodium amide, also called sodamide, is NaNH2. ...

2Na + 2NH₃ → 2NaNH₂ + H₂

then reacts the sodium amide with nitrous oxide. R-phrases S-phrases Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ...

2NaNH₂ + N₂O → NaN₃ + NaOH + NH₃

Sodium azide is best known as the chemical found in automobile airbags. An electrical charge triggered by automobile impact causes sodium azide to explode and release nitrogen gas inside the airbag. The chemical equation for this reaction is 2NaN₃ → 2Na + 3N₂. The sodium that is formed is a potential hazard itself and is converted by reaction with other ingredients, such as potassium nitrate (KNO₃) and silica (SiO₂), into an inert alkaline silicate 'glass'. An automobile airbag, like this one in a crashed SEAT Ibiza car, deflates after 0. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 14. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Niter. ... The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the oxide of silicon, chemical formula SiO2. ...

Sodium azide is also used as a chemical preservative in hospitals and laboratories. In this role, it is a biocide; it is especially important in bulk reagents and stock solutions which may be capable of supporting bacterial growth where the sodium azide acts as a bacteriostatic by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase in gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive (streptococci, pneumococci, lactobacilli) are resistant ^[1](a characteristic similar to antibiotic resistance). It is also used in agriculture (farming) for pest control, and in detonators and other explosives. A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, etc. ... A biocide is a chemical substance capable of killing different forms of living organisms used in fields such as medicine, agriculture, forestry, and mosquito control. ... Subgroups Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are microscopic, unicellular organisms. ... Bacteriostatic antibiotics hamper the growth of bacteria by interfering with bacteria protein production, interfering with bacteria DNA production interfering with bacteria cellular metabolism Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth and repoduction of the bacteria, though do not kill it, while bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria. ... Bacteria that are Gram-negative are not stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining, in contrast to Gram-positive bacteria. ... Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by gram staining, in contrast to gram-negative bacteria, which are not affected by the stain. ... Species S. pneumoniae S. pyogenes S. viridans Streptococcus is a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. ... Binomial name Streptococcus pneumoniae (Klein 1884) Chester 1901 Streptococcus pneumoniae is a species of Streptococcus that is a major human pathogen. ... Species Bacillus anthracis Bacillus cereus Bacillus coagulans Bacillus natto Bacillus subtilis Bacillus thuringiensis etc. ... Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. ... A detonator is a device used to trigger bombs, shaped charges and other forms of explosive material and explosive devices. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ...

Toxic effects

The toxicity of this material is often compared with that of cyanide salts as they give similar symptoms. The cyanide ion, CN−. From the top: 1. ...

The seriousness of poisoning caused by sodium azide depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the person exposed. Breathing the gas (hydrogen azide) that is formed from sodium azide causes the most harm, but ingesting (swallowing) sodium azide can be toxic as well. The gas formed from sodium azide is most dangerous in enclosed places where the gas will be trapped. The toxic gas quickly disperses in open spaces, making it less harmful outdoors. The gas formed from sodium azide is less dense (lighter) than air, so it will rise. The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ...

Azide anions prevent the cells of the body from using oxygen, inhibiting the function of cytochrome oxidase by binding irreversibly to the heme cofactor in a process similar to that of carbon monoxide. When this happens, the cells die. Sodium azide is more harmful to the heart and the brain than to other organs, because the heart and the brain use a lot of oxygen. Cellular respiration is the process in which the chemical bonds of energy-rich molecules such as glucose are converted into energy usable for life processes. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Structure of Heme b A heme or haem is a prosthetic group that consists of an iron atom contained in the center of a large heterocyclic organic ring called a porphyrin. ... A cofactor is the following: In mathematics a cofactor is the minor of an element of a square matrix. ... Carbon monoxide, chemical formula CO, is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... In animals, the brain, or encephalon (Greek for in the head), is the control center of the central nervous system. ...

People exposed to a small amount of sodium azide by breathing it, absorbing it through their skin, or eating foods that contain it may have some or all of the following symptoms within minutes:

• Rapid breathing
• Restlessness
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Red eyes (gas or dust exposure)
• Clear drainage from the nose (gas or dust exposure)
• Cough (gas or dust exposure)
• Skin burns and blisters (explosion or direct skin contact)

Exposure to a large amount of sodium azide by any route may cause these other health effects as well:

• Convulsions
• Low blood pressure
• Slow heart rate
• Loss of consciousness
• Lung injury
• Respiratory failure leading to death

Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to sodium azide. Survivors of serious sodium azide poisoning may have heart and brain damage. This article is about the medical condition. ... Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. ... Heart rate is a term used to describe the frequency of the cardiac cycle. ... The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ... Respiratory failure is a medical term for inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system. ...

Treatment

Sodium azide poisoning is treated with supportive medical care in a hospital setting. No specific antidote exists for sodium azide poisoning. The most important thing is for victims to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

References

1. ^ Lichstein, Herman C., Malcolm H. Soule (1943-06-19). "Studies of the Effect of Sodium Azide on Microbic Growth and Respiration" (PDF). Journal of Bacteriology 47 (3): 221-230. ISSN: 0343-6993. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.

1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... PDF is an abbreviation with several meanings: Portable Document Format Post-doctoral fellowship Probability density function There also is an electronic design automation company named PDF Solutions. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

External links

• International Chemical Safety Card 0950.
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.
• European Chemicals Bureau.
• Scientific American Ask the Experts.
• External MSDS Data Sheet.

• Link page to external chemical sources.