Chemical Reaction

Engineering
Che 420
 Air bags contain a mixture of NaN3, KNO3, SiO2. When ignited, the following
reactions take place:

1. 2NaN3 2Na + 3N2

2. 10Na + 2KNO3 K2O + 5Na2O + N2
3. K2O + Na2O + SiO2 alkaline silicate glass

Reactions 2 and 3 are necessary to handle the toxic sodium reaction product
from detonation. Set up a stoichiometric table solely in terms of NaN3 (A), KNO3
(B), etc., and the number of moles initially. If 150 grams of sodium azide are
present in each airbag, how many grams of KNO3 and SiO2 must be added to
make the reaction products safe in the form of alkaline silicate glass after the
bag has inflated?

The sodium azide is in itself toxic. How would you propose to handle
undetonated airbags in cars piling up in the junkyards?
Solution
1. 2NaN3 2Na + 3N2
2. 10Na + 2KNO3 K2O + 5Na2O + N2
3. K2O + Na2O + SiO2 alkaline silicate glass

5 * (2NaN3 2Na + 3N2)

10NaN3 10Na + 15N2

10Na + 2KNO3 K2O + 5Na2O + N2

 4
10NaN3 + 2KNO3 K2O + 5Na2O + 16N2

K2O + Na2O + SiO2 alkaline silicate glass

NaN310NaN3
+ 0.2KNO3
+ 2KNO3
+ 0.1SiO2
+ SiO2 0.4Na2O
4Na2O + 16N2
1.6N2++alkaline
0.1 (alkaline
silicate
silicate
glass glass)

A B C D E
Stoichiometric Table

Species Symbol Initial Change Final

NaN3 A NA - NAX NA (1-X)

KNO3 B NAθB -0.2NAX NA(θB -

0.2X)

SiO2 C NAθC -0.1NAX NA(θC - 0.1X)

Na2O D 0 0.4NAX 0.4NAX

N2 E 0 1.6NAX 1.6NAX
 ● weight of NaN3 = 150 g
nNaN3 = 2.3077 moles
● MWNaN3 = 65 g/mol

From Equation 4, 1 mol of NaN3 (A) requires 0.2 mol of KNO3 (B).

● nB = 0.2 (2.3077) = 0.4615 mol

weight of KNO3 = 46.6577 g
● MWKNO3 = 101.1 g/mol

1 mol of NaN3 (A) requires 0.1 mol of SiO2 (C).

● nC = 0.1 (2.3077) = 0.2308 mol

weight of SiO2 = 13.8688 g
● MWSiO2 = 60.09 g/mol
How would you propose to handle undetonated
airbags in cars piling up in junkyards?

Sodium azide is stable under ordinary conditions of storage but

decompose explosively upon shock, concussions, friction, or
exposed to temperatures over 105°C, therefore, cars should be
stored in cool, dry, and ventilated areas. Physical damage to airbags
should also be avoided as much as possible.