The engineers who design air bags are able to determine the exact quantity of chemicals needed to inflate the air bag to the proper volume, and in the correct amount of time. If the air bag is under inflated or inflates too quickly, the passenger will still be injured by the steering wheel. If the air bag over inflates or inflates too slowly, the passenger will hit the inflating airbag and be injured. It is critical to get just the right amount of gas in the air bag. It's a Crash Test, Dummy .
Students are now ready to begin the lab.
This will allow students to develop some idea of a limiting reactant. In this reaction, acetic acid combines with sodium bicarbonate to form water, carbon dioxide, and sodium acetate. NaC2H3O2 The carbon dioxide is the gas that fills the bag, and the sodium acetate will be dissolved in the water. It is important for students to realize that this is not exactly how an air bag works, but is a good analogy that allows them to simulate the inflation of a protective device in the classroom. Be prepared for some messes with the egg drop test.