sodium azide

noun

: a poisonous crystalline salt NaN3 used especially to make lead azide

Examples of sodium azide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The heat from this ignition starts the decomposition of the sodium azide, which is poisonous, and the generation of nitrogen gas to fill the air bag in seconds. Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2024 Additionally, as per the National Poison Control Center, the solution found in the vials included with a lot of rapid antigen kits (such as BinaxNow, Flowflex, and BD Veritor) uses sodium azide as a preservative agent—which can be toxic if ingested in low doses. Brenda Stolyar, Wired, 9 Aug. 2022 When swallowed sodium azide can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, headache and heart palpitations, and, in more severe cases, seizures and death. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 23 Feb. 2022 Sodium nitrite is one option for quenching sodium azide. Anna Edney, Fortune, 7 May 2022 Several poison centers throughout the United States have reported sodium azide exposures from the COVID-19 test kits. Terry Demio, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sodium azide was circa 1937

Dictionary Entries Near sodium azide

Cite this Entry

“Sodium azide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sodium%20azide. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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