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Sodium: Sodium Azide
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Sodium Azide, NaN3, mol wt 65.02, CAS Number 26628-22-8, is a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid (salt-like) or solution. It is soluble in water or liquid ammonia, slightly soluble in alcohols, and insoluble in ether. It is highly toxic and presents a severe explosion risk when shocked or heated. When heated from 275 to 330°C in dry air, the solid crystals decompose with the evolution of nitrogen gas, leaving a residue of sodium oxide. Sodium hydroxide then forms in moist air. Synonyms and Trade Names are Azide, Azium, and Sodium salt of hydrazoic acid.
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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.
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Sodium azide is a common preservative of samples and stock solutions in laboratories and a useful reagent in synthetic work. It is not explosive except when heated near its decomposition temperature (300°C) or reacted with metals; heating sodium azide should be avoided. Sodium azide (solid or concentrated solution) should never be flushed down the drain since this practice can cause serious incidents when the azide reacts with lead or copper in the drain lines and explodes. Sodium azide has high acute toxicity as well as high toxicity to bacteria in water treatment plants.
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Sodium azide is used as a chemical preservative in hospitals and laboratories. Accidents have occurred in these settings. In one case, sodium azide was poured into a drain, where it exploded and the toxic gas was inhaled (breathed in).
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Sodium Azide