Question

A mixture of hydrazine and $H_{2}O_{2}$ with Cu(II) catalyst is used as a rocket propellant. Why?

Answer 1

The molecular formula of Hydrazine is ${ NH }_{ 2 }-{ NH }_{ 2 }$

In the presence of Cu(II) catalyst, hydrogen peroxide oxidizes hydrazine to nitrogen.

The reaction is highly  exothermic and it is accompanied by large increase in volume. Therefore, the mixture provides an upward thrust and is used as a rocket fuel. The chemical reaction is given below.

${ { NH }_{ 2 }-{ NH }_{ 2 } }_{ (l) }\quad +\quad { 2{ H }_{ 2 }{ O }_{ 2 } }_{ (l) }\quad \xrightarrow [ Cu(II) ]{ Heat } \quad { { N }_{ 2 } }_{ (g) }\quad +\quad { 4{ H }_{ 2 }O }_{ (g) }\quad +\quad Heat$