nitrogen tetroxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a poisonous compound, N 2 O 4 , occurring as a colorless, water-soluble solid or liquid, dissociating into NO 2 : used chiefly as an oxidizer, especially in rocket fuels, as a nitrating agent, and as an intermediate in the manufacture of nitric acid.

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nitrogen tetroxide British  

noun

1. another name for dinitrogen tetroxide

2. a brown liquefied mixture of nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide, used as a nitrating, bleaching, and oxidizing agent

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Example Sentences

Some of the nitrogen tetroxide appears to have permeated through Teflon seals and interacted with moisture on the other side to produce nitric acid, Mr. Vollmer said.

From New York Times • Aug. 13, 2021

Mr. Vollmer said the problem occurred among 24 valves that control the flow of nitrogen tetroxide, a propellant used by Starliner’s thrusters.

From New York Times • Aug. 13, 2021

Sometime that morning, massive tanks of aerozene 50 and nitrogen tetroxide would mix and explode in the belly of the Titan, producing an eruptive thrust of 430,000 lbs. and hurling the men into orbit.

From Time • Oct. 14, 2013

Still another costly delay followed a mishap on the pad that occurred during a supposedly routine fueling operation when a jammed valve caused a back-up of nitrogen tetroxide.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is steered by injections of liquid nitrogen tetroxide into the white hot gas stream through valves in the sides of the engine's nozzle.

From Time Magazine Archive