Automotive airbags inflate when sodium azide decomposes explosively to its constituent elements. How many grams of sodium azide are required to produce 30.5 g of nitrogen?

47.2 g of NaN3.

Explanation:

Equation of the reaction

2NaN3 - -> 2Na + 3N2 (g)

Molar mass of N2 = (14*2)

= 28 g/mol

Number of moles = mass*molar mass

= 30.5/28

= 1.09 moles of N2

Using stoichiometry, 2 moles of sodium azide decomposes to give 3 moles of nitrogen.

1.09 moles of N2 will give,

= 2/3 * 1.09

= 0.726 moles of NaN3

Molar mass of NaN3 = 23 + (14*3)

= 65 g/mol

Mass = number of moles * molar mass

= 65 * 0.726

= 47.2 g of NaN3