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Chemical Name: Sodium Azide
Synonyms: Hydrazoic acid, sodium salt
Molecular Formula: NaN₃
Appearance: White crystalline powder
Odor: Almost odorless
CAS Number: 26628-22-8
Acute Toxicity: Highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption
Physical Risk: Explosive; sensitive to shock, friction, static discharge, heat
Health Effects: Poisoning targets central nervous system and cardiovascular system; symptoms include headache, rapid breathing, nausea, collapse
Environmental Risk: Harmful to aquatic life; toxic to soil microorganisms
Signal Words: Danger, Toxic, Explosive
Sodium Azide: Concentration typically above 95% in commercial samples
Impurities: Trace moisture or other sodium salts, non-essential but present in minor amounts
Inhalation: Immediate removal from exposure zone; seek medical attention for respiratory issues
Skin Contact: Rinse with copious water for at least 15 minutes; remove contaminated clothes
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with large amounts of water, seek emergency medical attention
Ingestion: Never induce vomiting; seek medical help right away, inform responders about exposure to sodium azide
Extinguishing Media: Use a large quantity of water; sodium azide reacts dangerously with carbon dioxide, dry chemicals, and halogenated materials
Fire Hazards: Decomposes at high temperatures, releasing toxic gases such as hydrazoic acid and nitrogen oxides; risk of explosion increases under heat, friction, or impact
Protective Gear for Firefighters: Use self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing
Special Procedures: Evacuate area, avoid inhaling fumes, prevent contaminated runoff entering drains or surface water
Spill Response: Evacuate unnecessary personnel, ventilate area, avoid all sources of ignition
Containment: Do not allow material to enter drains, sewers, or water bodies
Clean-Up: Collect with non-sparking tools, place in a secure container, label properly for disposal
PPE: Wear gloves, splash-proof goggles, chemical-resistant clothing, and certified respirator if dust or fumes are present
Handling: Limit handling to trained personnel; ground containers to avoid static build-up; no open flames or sparks in vicinity; use in well-ventilated fume hood
Storage: Store in tightly sealed containers; keep cool, dry, and away from incompatible substances such as metals, acids, halogenated solvents; secure against physical damage and unauthorized access; monitor inventory closely since degradation over time can increase hazard
Engineering Controls: Use chemical fume hood, explosion-proof ventilation where possible
Personal Protection: Gloves made from nitrile or neoprene; chemical splash goggles; long-sleeved lab coats; additional face shield for bulk handling; certified respirator if airborne particles or vapors suspected
Exposure Limits: OSHA and ACGIH have very low exposure limits; chronic exposure must be prevented due to significant health risks
Physical State: Solid at room temperature
Color: White
Solubility: Soluble in water and liquid ammonia, producing strongly basic solutions
Melting Point: 275°C (decomposes)
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient conditions
Density: About 1.85 g/cm³
Odor Threshold: Not well established because material is nearly odorless
Decomposition Products: Hydrazoic acid (toxic, flammable), nitrogen gas
Chemical Stability: Stable when dry and stored properly; decomposes slowly in water, rapidly in acid
Incompatibles: Strong acids (rapid release of hydrazoic acid gas), heavy metals and their salts (can form shock-sensitive explosives), halogenated solvents
Status Under Fire or Impact: Risk of violent decomposition at high temperatures or sudden impact
Polymerization: Not known to polymerize
Acute Effects: Rapid onset of headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness, cardiovascular collapse; ingestion of a few hundred milligrams can be fatal to adults
Chronic Exposure: Possible nerve and organ damage from repeated low-level exposure; symptoms include low blood pressure, muscle cramps, confusion
Routes of Entry: Inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption
Symptoms of Poisoning: Nausea, vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath, arrhythmias
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as a carcinogen by major agencies; main risk is acute poisoning
Aquatic Toxicity: Highly toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term damage in rivers, lakes, or groundwater
Soil Impact: Toxic to soil bacteria and other microorganisms
Persistence and Degradability: Relatively stable in dry environments but breaks down slowly in moist soils; degrades to nitrogen, nitrites, and ammonia under some conditions
Bioaccumulation: Little evidence for persistence in human food chains but fast enough to be a real worry for environmental health after spills or improper disposal
Waste Handling: Never dump sodium azide into regular trash, drains, or the environment
Preferred Methods: Chemical deactivation by careful reaction with nitrous acid to harmless nitrogen; process needs expert supervision due to risk of hydrazoic acid gas production
Regulatory Controls: Disposal sites must follow strict regulations for toxic and explosive waste streams; documentation and secure transport required
Classification: Listed as a dangerous good, both for road and air transport
Packaging: UN-approved containers, secure packaging, clear hazard labeling
Transport Precautions: Keep away from sources of heat, shock, vibration; manifest cargo and pre-notify authorities; emergency plans in case of spill or accident
Hazard Classification: Recognized globally as a hazardous and controlled chemical
Compliance: Subject to OSHA workplace safety rules, environmental protection standards, federal and state transport restrictions
Worker Protection: Employers must provide safety training, protective equipment, exposure monitoring, and emergency procedures
Community Safety: Facilities using sodium azide report inventory and disposal to emergency responders and environmental regulators
