Automotive airbags inflate when a sample of sodium azide, NaN3, is very rapidly decomposed. What mass of sodium azide is required to produce 95.8 g of nitrogen gas?

148 g

Explanation:

Step 1: Write the balanced equation for the decomposition of sodium azide

2 NaN₃ ⇒ 2 Na + 3 N₂

Step 2: Calculate the moles corresponding to 95.8 g of N₂

The molar mass of N₂ is 28.01 g/mol.

95.8 g × 1 mol/28.01 g = 3.42 mol

Step 3: Calculate the moles of NaN₃ needed to form 3.42 moles of N₂

The molar ratio of NaN₃ to N₂ is 2:3. The moles of NaN₃ needed are 2/3 × 3.42 mol = 2.28 mol.

Step 4: Calculate the mass corresponding to 2.28 moles of NaN₃

The molar mass of NaN₃ is 65.01 g/mol.

2.28 mol × 65.01 g/mol = 148 g