hydrazine

American  

[hahy-druh-zeen] / ˈhaɪ drəˌzin /

noun

1. Also called diamine.  a colorless, oily, fuming liquid, N 2 H 4 , that is a weak base in solution and forms a large number of salts resembling ammonium salts: used chiefly as a reducing agent and a jet-propulsion fuel.

2. a class of substances derived by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms in hydrazine by an organic group.

---

hydrazine British  

/ ˈhaɪdrəˌziːn, -zɪn /

noun

1. a colourless basic liquid made from sodium hypochlorite and ammonia: a strong reducing agent, used chiefly as a rocket fuel. Formula: N 2 H 4

---

hydrazine Scientific  

/ hī′drə-zēn′,-zĭn /

1. A colorless, fuming, corrosive liquid with an odor like ammonia that is a powerful reducing agent. It can be combined with organic compounds to form jet and rocket fuels and is also used to make explosives, fungicides, medicines, and photographic chemicals. Chemical formula: N ₂ H ₄ .

---

Etymology

Origin of hydrazine

First recorded in 1885–90; hydr- ² + az- + -ine ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hydrazine

Experts at the time said they believed it was most likely a fuel tank or bladder tank containing hydrazine - a highly volatile propellant - from an unmanned rocket.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

Joel Odou, an attorney for Real Water, told jurors the company tested the water but did not know to test for hydrazine — a toxic chemical used in rocket fuel.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 5, 2023

He decides to grow potatoes, jerry-rigging a climate-controlled dome, burning hydrazine to make water and creating a growth medium from Mars dust supplemented by his crewmates’ faeces.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 7, 2020

The US justified the demonstration, arguing that the satellite had toxic hydrazine fuel on board that could have become hazardous if parts of the satellite landed.

From The Verge ● Apr. 15, 2020

I don't even have to perfectly match the hydrazine end of it with the fuel plant CO, part.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir