The Decomposition of Sodium Azide by Controlled Electron Bombardment and by Ultraviolet Light

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Abstract
The decomposition of crystalline sodium azide has been brought about by bombardment with 11.65±0.2 volt electrons. The material to be decomposed was placed on the plate of a specially designed three electrode vacuum tube and the decomposition rate studied as a function of the voltage of the bombarding electrons. All decomposition rates were determined by the pressure change as measured on an ionization manometer, sodium azide decomposing into pure sodium and nitrogen. Periodic discontinuities in pressure were observed which are associated with the ionization manometer and the crystalline sodium azide. Solid sodium azide has been found to be decomposed photochemically by wave‐lengths below approximately 405 mμ. The rate of decomposition was directly proportional to the light intensity. There is no apparent relation between energies necessary for the electronic and photochemical decomposition.
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