When an airbag inflates, sodium azide, NaN3, decomposes to produce sodium and nitrogen gas. How many molecules of nitrogen gas would be produced from 429 g of sodium azide?

The number of nitrogen gas that would produced from 429 g of sodium azide is calculated as follows

write the equation for decomposition of sodium azide

= 2NaN3 = 2 Na + 3 N2

find the moles of NaN3 = moles = mass/molar mass

= 429 g / 65 g/mol = 6.6 moles

by use of mole ratio between NaN3 to N2 which is 2:3 the moles of N2 is therefore = 6.6 moles x3/2 = 9.9 moles

then by use of Avogadro law constant

1mole = 6.02 x10^23 molecules what about 9.9 moles

= 9.9 x (6.02 x10^23) = 5.96 x10^24 molecules