2007-07-18 05:30:19 · 5 answers · asked by Great_Magician13 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Lead azide is very unstable because of the nitrogen. You have a large lead ion surrounded by three very large nitrogen ions. Basically you have van der waals repulsion forces between the nitrogen ions and the lead in a tetrahedral arrangement in space. Any instability in the molecule and it will become unstable and explode releasing the nitrogen.
That is basically how sodium azide in airbags work. When a car gets it it creates instability and it releases the nitrogen to inflate the bag.
2007-07-18 13:47:16 · answer #1 · answered by scott k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lead Azide
2016-09-29 09:50:30 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Note for the non-chemists: lead azide is Pb(N3)2. The azide group is naturally unstable; it has a tendency to decompose into nitrogen. When it receives enough energy, whether from a jolt, electric shock, or heat, it quickly (and therefore explosively) decomposes.
The addition of a heavy metal like lead, mercury, silver, or copper makes it even more unstable.
2007-07-18 06:14:29 · answer #3 · answered by anotherhumanmale 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lead azide is explosive because of the azide (N3) group. Azides violently decompose and are therefore explosive. I saw an azide explosion once where the unfortunate individual blew all their fingers off their hand. Hope this helps.
2007-07-18 05:44:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
PbN3 is very unstable since the decomposing reaction to the constituents is highly exothermic, whereas PbN3 itself is the product of a highly endothermic reaction.
2007-07-18 05:34:14 · answer #5 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋