Chemistry Lab

2

Engineering a Better Airbag Student Name Date

Data

Data Table 1: Model Air Bag

Activity	Data and Calculations
Volume of 6 × 9 inch bag	1.20 L
Room temperature (in K)
Room pressure (in atm)
Moles of CO2 required to inflate bag at room temperature and pressure
Balanced equation for the reaction of NaHCO3 and CH3COOH
Mass of NaHCO3 needed for the reaction
Volume of vinegar required (0.833 M acetic acid)

Data Table 2: Model Air Bag

Trial #	NaHCO3 (grams)	Vinegar (mL)	Observations
1
2
3

Data Table 3: 80-L Driver-Side Air Bag

Activity	Calculations
Moles of CO2 required to inflate 80-L driver-side air bag at room temperature and pressure
Balanced equation for the reaction of NaHCO3 and CH3COOH
Grams of NaHCO3 needed for the reaction
mL of CH3COOH (0.833 M) needed for the reaction

Data Table 4: 160-L Front Passenger-Side Air Bag

Activity	Calculations
Moles of CO2 required to inflate 160-L front passenger-side air bag at room temperature and pressure
Balanced equation for the reaction of NaHCO3 and CH3COOH
Grams of NaHCO3 needed for the reaction
mL of CH3COOH (0.833 M) needed for the reaction

1. Based upon the observed performance of the air bag models and the amounts of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid (vinegar) needed for an automotive air bag of 80 or 160 L, are these reactants a good substitute for sodium azide? One additional note regarding sodium azide: the rate of inflation after a triggering impact is 40 milliseconds (0.04 s).

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