Hydrazine, << HY druh zeen, >> is an important chemical compound used in jet and rocket fuels. Industry also uses it to make agricultural and textile chemicals, drugs, explosives, photographic developers, and blowing agents used in the manufacture of foam rubber. Hydrazine is also used to prevent rusting in boilers and nuclear reactors. Its derivatives are used to regulate the growth of plants, such as grass on parkways. These chemicals keep the grass from growing so fast that it needs constant attention.
Hydrazine occurs as a colorless, fuming, corrosive liquid. This is a nitrogen-containing base and a powerful reducing agent (see Base ). It mixes readily with water and alcohol. Hydrazine boils at 114 °C (237 °F). It burns readily in air, giving off a great amount of heat, to form nitrogen gas and water. Industry prepares it by various methods from hydrazine hydrate.
