Question

A mixture of hydrazine and $40$ to $60$ percent $H_2{O}_2$ solution is used as:

• A. antiseptic
• B. germicide
• C. rocket fuel
• D. insecticide

Answer 1

The correct option is C rocket fuel

A mixture of hydrazine and $40-60$ percent $H_2{O}_2$ solution is used as rocket fuel.

The single bond between the two oxygen atoms in $H_2{O}_2$ is weak so that $H_2{O}_2$ readily fragments into either $H$ and $H{O}_2$ or two $OH$ radicals. Either way, the resulting species are free radicals, which means they are very reactive and this makes $H_2{O}_2$ a very powerful oxidising agent.

Due to this reason, it has been utilised in rocket propulsion when it is used to oxidise the hydrazine fuel, liberating hot gases (steam and oxygen) which propel the rocket forward.