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Chemical Name: Sodium Azide
Appearance: White, odorless crystalline powder
Main Use: Preservative in laboratories, airbag inflators, chemical synthesis
Chemical Formula: NaN₃
Other Common Names: Hydrazoic acid sodium salt
Main Risks: Highly toxic, explosive under certain conditions, strong acute poison, severe health hazard if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through skin
Physical Dangers: May explode with impact, heat, or friction, decomposition releases toxic gases like hydrazoic acid
Health Effects: Rapid onset toxicity affecting central nervous system, blood, and cardiovascular system
Environmental Impact: Harmful to aquatic organisms, persistent in soil and water
Regulatory Classifications: Designated as acute toxicant, hazardous substance under chemical safety regulations
Main Ingredient: Sodium azide, typically at concentrations exceeding 99% for laboratory use
CAS Number: 26628-22-8
Common Impurities: Minor traces of metallic sodium or synthesis by-products may occur depending on source
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air, supply oxygen, and seek immediate medical help
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash skin thoroughly with soap and water, obtain medical attention
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes under gentle running water for at least 15 minutes, seek ophthalmologist intervention
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth, obtain urgent medical support
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry sand, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide; avoid water and foam, which can spread contamination
Fire Hazards: Decomposition may release nitrogen oxides, sodium oxide, and hydrazoic acid; fire supports explosive reaction
Protective Equipment: Full protective gear, self-contained breathing apparatus strongly advised for responders
Combustion Products: Highly toxic and potentially explosive fumes
Personal Protection: Wear suitable gloves, lab coats, and respiratory protection
Spill Cleanup: Gently sweep up without generating dust, utilize spark-proof tools, place in suitable container for disposal
Ventilation: Increase local ventilation to limit inhalation exposure
Environmental Precautions: Avoid discharge to drains, soil, or surface water
Handling Precautions: Use only in well-ventilated or fume-hood equipped spaces, avoid contact with acids, metals, and other incompatible substances
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed containers, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, isolated from heat and sources of ignition
Segregation: Keep away from food, reducing agents, and strong acids
Airborne Limits: Strict workplace limits apply (OSHA and ACGIH standards highlight extremely low permissible exposure limits)
Engineering Controls: Use fume hoods or local exhaust systems
Personal Protection: Chemically resistant gloves, goggles, lab coats, approved respirators for airborne dust or vapor conditions
Physical State: Solid
Color: White
Odor: Odorless
Melting Point: Around 275°C (decomposes)
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Explosion Risk: Decomposes explosively above melting point or on contact with heavy metals or acids
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage, but decomposes violently under heat, shock, or contact with acids
Reactivity: Reacts with copper, lead, and other heavy metals to form explosive azides
Decomposition Products: Nitrogen, sodium oxide, and hydrazoic acid gas—each highly toxic
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion pose acute risks
Toxic Effects: Dizziness, headache, hypotension, rapid heart rate, convulsions, and possible loss of consciousness
Chronic Exposure: Potential long-term impacts on central nervous and cardiovascular systems
Lethal Dose (LD50): As low as 27 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Aquatic Toxicity: Highly toxic to aquatic organisms
Persistence: Sodium azide persists in water, posing risks to wildlife
Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation potential not fully researched, but run-off carries hazard far beyond original spill site
Soil Mobility: High solubility leads to rapid infiltration into soils and waterways
Waste Disposal: Incinerate only in controlled environment, never dump into sewers or regular waste
Precautions: Specialized chemical disposal contractors with experience required for safe neutralization and destruction
Contaminated Packaging: Treat as hazardous waste and handle according to chemical safety legislation
Transportation Class: Classified as dangerous goods for road, air, and sea
Shipping Requirements: Secure packaging, proper hazard labeling, and documentation essential
Handling: Professional chemical transporter license needed given explosive and highly toxic nature
International Controls: Subject to restrictions on manufacture, sale, and distribution under many national and international statutes
Occupational Limits: Stringent worker exposure rules, workplace monitoring, medical supervision in place in regulated industries
Restricted Uses: Ban or limitation in consumer products, heightened control for public safety
Labelling: Clear toxic, environmental hazard, and explosive pictograms required on all packaging and shipping units
