Hydrazoic acid

Use

Hydrazoic acid may be destroyed by convertingit to sodium azide. The latter isdecomposed with nitrous acid in a hood(National Research Council 1995). The followingmethod is used. It is diluted in waterto a strength below 5%; or its solution inorganic solvents that is immiscible in wateris shaken vigorously with water in a separatoryfunnel. The aqueous solution containinghydrazoic acid is neutralized with sodiumhydroxide and separated from any organiclayer. Sodium azide, so formed, is destroyedby reacting the aqueous solution with anexcess of sodium nitrite followed by 20%sulfuric acid until the solution is acidic. Thereaction is carried out in a three-necked flaskequipped with a stirrer, a dropping funnel,and a gas outlet line to vent out nitric oxide.The reaction mixture is flushed down thedrain.