Sodium azide is a white powder that explodes when it hits metal. When it hits water, it turns into an acid that can eat through your skin. When it’s inhaled, it shreds your lungs. But for a long time, ...

Two recent articles refer to the hazards of working with sodium azide (NaN 3) (C&EN, Jan. 11, page 4, and Nov. 9, 2009, page 8). American Azide Corp., a division of American Pacific Corp. (AMPAC), has ...

It was important to read the recent letters that revisited the dangers associated with the use of sodium azide (C&EN Jan. 11, page 4; April 5, page 5; and Nov. 9, 2009, page 8). None of these letters, ...

The name "airbag" can be deceiving because the bag is not exactly filled with air. Instead, this life-saving device is filled with nitrogen gas, which is produced in a swift reaction by a compound ...

As the Biden administration delivers rapid antigen home COVID-19 tests to millions of Americans, there has been concern from some other countries about the tests potentially being poisonous to dogs ...

Joseph S. Merola, a chemistry professor and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Tech, offers this explanation: Although we don't usually associate automobiles with chemistry ...

A 6-h imbibition in sodium azide solution stimulated nearly 100% germination of dormant wild oat (Avena fatua L.) seeds in petri dishes. Sodium azide stimulated germination in soil in both field and ...

Normally, when something explodes it tends to be a bad day for all involved. But not every explosion is intended to maim or kill. Plenty of explosions are designed to save lives every day, from the ...