General Description
A colorless crystalline solid. Density 1.85 g /cm3. Burns in air and may explode if large quantities are involved. Toxic by ingestion. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires.
Reactivity Profile
SODIUM AZIDE is unstable. Decomposes rapidly or explosively at about 300°C [Hawley]. May explode if shocked. Forms violently explosive products if exposed to carbon disulfide. Can be sensitized toward decomposition by metal salts (especially heavy metal salts such as silver chloride) or by traces of strong acids [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 298].
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water. Addition of water to SODIUM AZIDE(26628-22-8) which was heated caused a violent reaction, [Angew. Chem. 1952, 64, 169]. Dust may form an explosive mixture in air.
Hazard
Highly toxic. Lung damage and cardiac
impairment. Questionable carcinogen.
Health Hazard
Can cause death by affecting the central nervous system. Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes.
Potential Exposure
Sodium azide is used as preservative and diluent. It has been used for a wide variety of military, laboratory, medicine, and commercial purposes. It is used extensively as an intermediate in the production of lead azide, commonly used in detonators, and other explosives. Reported to be used in automobile air-bag inflation. One of the largest potential exposure is that to automotive workers, repairmen, and wreckers, if sodium azide is used as the inflation chemical. Commercial applications include use as a fungicide, nematocide, and soil sterilizing agent and as a preservative for seeds and wine. The lumber industry has used sodium azide to limit the growth of enzymes responsible for formation of brown stain on sugar pine, while the Japanese beer industry used it to prevent the growth of a fungus which darkens its product. The chemical industry has used sodium azide as a retarder in the manufacture of sponge rubber, to prevent coagulation of styrene and butadiene latexes stored in contact with metals; and to decompose nitrites in the presence of nitrates.
Fire Hazard
When heated to decomposition, SODIUM AZIDE emits very toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides; explosive. Forms explosive-sensitive materials with some metals such as lead, silver, mercury or copper. May form toxic hydrazoic acid fumes in fire. Containers may explode in fire. Avoid acids, benzoyl chloride and potassium hydroxide; bromine; carbon disulfide; copper; lead; nitric acid; barium carbonate; sulfuric acid; chromium (II) hypochlorite, dimethyl sulfate, water, dibromomalononitrile, lead, silver, copper, mercury. Hazardous polymerization may not occur.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. If victim is conscious, administer water, or milk. Do not induce vomiting. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.
Shipping
UN1687 Sodium azide, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.
Incompatibilities
Reacts explosively and/or forms explosive and/or shock sensitive compounds with acids and many metals. Contact with water forms hydrazoic acid. Combustible solid (if heated above 275C). May explode when heated above its melting point, especially if heating is rapid. Reacts with acids; producing toxic, shock-sensitive, and explosive hydrogen azide. It forms explosive compounds with phosgene, brass, zinc, trifluoroacrylol fluoride, and nitrogendiluted bromine vapor. Reacts with benzoyl chloride and potassium hydroxide, bromine, carbon disulfide; copper, lead, nitric acid; barium carbonate; sulfuric acid; chromium (II) hypochlorite; dimethyl sulfate; dibromomalononitrile, silver, mercury. Over a period of time, sodium azide may react with copper, lead, brass, or solder in plumbing systems to form an accumulation of the highly explosive and shock-sensitive compounds of lead azide and copper azide
Chemical Properties
Colorless, hexagonal crystals. Decom-
poses at about 300C. Soluble in water
and in liquid ammonia; slightly soluble in alcohol;
hydrolyzes to form hydrazoic acid. Combustible.
Chemical Properties
Sodium azide is a colorless to white, odorless, crystalline solid. Combustible solid above 300°C.
Waste Disposal
Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform to EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal. Disposal may be accomplished by reaction with sulfuric acid solution and sodium nitrate in a hard rubber vessel.Nitrogen dioxide is generated by this reaction and the gas is run through a scrubber before it is released to the atmosphere. Controlled incineration is also acceptable (after mixing with other combustible wastes) with adequate scrubbing and ash disposal facilities.
Physical properties
Colorless hexagonal crystals; density 1.846 g/cm3 at 20°C; decomposes on heating to produce sodium and nitrogen; also decomposes in vacuum; soluble in water partially converting to hydrazoic acid, solubility in water, 41.7 g/100mL; slightly soluble in alcohol, 0.316g/100mL at 16°C; soluble in liquid ammonia.
Definition
sodium azide: A white or colourlesscrystalline solid, NaN3, soluble inwater and slightly soluble in alcohol;hexagonal; r.d. 1.846; decomposes onheating. It is made by the action ofnitrogen(I) oxide on hot sodamide(NaNH2) and is used as an organicreagent and in the manufacture ofdetonators.
Preparation
Sodium azide is prepared by reacting sodium amide with nitrous oxide. The amide is heated with nitrous oxide at 200°C or its solution in liquid ammonia is treated with nitrous oxide at ambient temperature: 2NaNH2 + N2O → NaN3 + NaOH + NH3.
Production Methods
Sodium azide can be prepared from sodium metal and liquid
ammonia in the presence of ferric chloride. The amide
formed is treated with nitrous oxide to produce the azide.
Flammability and Explosibility
Flammability hazard is low, but violent decomposition can occur when heated to
275 °C. Decomposition products include oxides of nitrogen and sodium oxide.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Sodium azide is a preservative for laboratory reagents. It also works as a plant mutagen. It is a F-type ATPase inhibitor and selectively inhibits ceruloplasmin.Sodium azide 0.1M solution is an additive screening solution of Additive Screening Kit. Additive Screen kit is designed to allow rapid and convenient evaluation of additives and their ability to influence the crystallization of the sample. The Additive Kit provides a tool for refining crystallization conditions.
storage
In particular,
work with sodium azide should be conducted in a fume hood to prevent exposure by
inhalation, and appropriate impermeable gloves and splash goggles should be worn
at all times to prevent skin and eye contact. Containers of sodium azide should be
stored in secondary containers in a cool, dry place separated from acids.
Purification Methods
Crystallise sodium azide from hot water or from water by adding absolute EtOH or acetone. Also purify it by repeated crystallisation from an aqueous solution saturated at 90o by cooling it to 10o, and adding an equal volume of EtOH. The crystals are washed with acetone, and the azide is dried at room temperature under vacuum for several hours in an Abderhalden pistol. Its solubility in H2O is 42% at 18o, and in EtOH it is 0.22% at 0o. [Das et al. J Chem Soc, Faraday Trans 1 78 3485 1982, Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I pp 474-475 1963, Browne Inorg Synth 1 79 1939, Frierson Inorg Synth II 139 1946.] HIGHLY POISONOUS and potentially explosive.
