Carolina ChemKits® Gas Laws and Engineering Airbags

Here's a real-world application of the ideal gas law. Students learn about current airbag technology, including environmental impact of toxic components used in airbags, then design an airbag using less hazardous substances. Once students build an airbag that inflates without bursting, they calculate amounts of chemicals needed to inflate a real driver airbag and a real passenger airbag. They must consider their designs' practical limitations, such as reaction rate and temperature's effect on the inflated volume.