Final answer:
Iron oxide (Fe2O3) is not typically involved in the inflation process of airbags; instead, the chemical sodium azide (NaN3) is used to rapidly produce nitrogen gas that inflates the airbag upon collision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Role of Iron Oxide in Airbags
The question refers to the role of iron oxide (Fe2O3) in automobile airbags, which seems to be a mix-up, as the most relevant compound used in the chemistry of airbag deployment is actually sodium azide (NaN3). When a collision is detected by a vehicle's sensors, an electrical current triggers the decomposition of sodium azide, according to the chemical reaction: 2NaN3 (s) → 3N2(g) + 2Na (s). This reaction is very rapid, producing nitrogen gas which inflates the airbag in a fraction of a second, typically between 0.03 to 0.1 seconds. Iron oxide, however, is not typically involved in the inflation process of airbags. The primary focus for airbag deployment is ensuring a controlled explosion that rapidly inflates the airbag with nitrogen gas.