Anhydrous Hydrazine: A Powerful but Extremely Dangerous High-Energy Rocket Fuel

Anhydrous hydrazine is a chemical compound with powerful reactive properties that make it an essential component in various industries, including aerospace and medicine. It is commonly used as a high-energy fuel in rocket propulsion, due to its ability to produce large amounts of energy through exothermic reactions. However, anhydrous hydrazine is also highly toxic and flammable, making it extremely dangerous to handle and use. In this video, we will explore the unique characteristics of anhydrous hydrazine, its uses and applications, and the precautions that must be taken when working with this powerful but potentially hazardous chemical. So, be careful when handling anhydrous hydrazine and always follow proper safety protocols.
0:00 Intro
0:45 Anhydrous hydrazine and oxygen
1:27 Anhydrous hydrazine and ozonated oxygen
1:53 Anhydrous hydrazine and Nitrous oxide
4:02 Just Me :D
4:26 Anhydrous hydrazine and Chromyl chloride
6:25 Liquid nitrogen dioxide presentation
6:54 Hypergolic reaction between Hydrazine and Dinitrogen tetroxide
12:24 Phenylhydrazine and Dinitrogen tetroxide (hypergolic reaction)
13:59 Osmium tetroxide presentation
15:32 Anhydrous hidrazine and Osmium tetroxide!
16:40 Vanadium oxytrichloride presentation
17:33 Anhydrous hidrazine and Vanadium oxytrichloride
19:46 Anhydrous hidrazine and liquid chlorine
22:04 Anhydrous hidrazine and bromine
23:04 Anhydrous hidrazine and Cobalt trifluoride
24:39 Anhydrous hidrazine and Iodine pentoxide
25:53 A Big thanks to my dear patrons and donors! ❤❤❤
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[@billmoran3812]

In the 1960’s a group of us high school students experimented with rockets and propellant. We were able to get several liters of dimethyl hydrazine and experimented with it and LOX as well as several varieties of nitrous oxides that yielded hypergalic reactions. The latter were too unstable to be safe even in our young opinions. Eventually our faculty supervisor alerted the air force to what we planned and we were visited by the Air Force. They agreed to fly out liquid fused rocket and share the resulting data with us. The hydrazine-LOX rocket worked better than our estimates and flew at White Sands NM. We never saw the rocket again though.

[@m.i.c.h.o]

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing

[@daltonsoutherland8836]

I hate to say it but science was a lot cooler before it got so safe 😂

[@m.i.c.h.o]

​@@daltonsoutherland8836 So you're saying that with less people in the field dying science isn't as cool? I don't think you realize how ignorance to safety protocols has affected people in the past and will continue with people doing science the "cool" way.

[@daltonsoutherland8836]

@@m.i.c.h.o you took that way too seriously dude what I meant was the military doesn't bring rockets and show them to high school kids anymore now calm down and step off your pedestal 😉

[@m.i.c.h.o]

@@daltonsoutherland8836 Oh snap sorry chief. Hell yeah I wish the military would do that more often, that'd be a great experience for students!

[@josefranciscomartin3055]

The type of chemicals described in chemistry handbooks, just as a curiosity. Thank you for building a great visual encyclopedia of chemical weirdness.

[@josephpotter5766]

Since I've not seen anyone in the comments recommend it yet, I thoroughly endorse "IGNITION! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants" by John D. Clark, for anyone interested in the history of Hydrazine and it's substituted variations as hypergolic rocket fuels.

[@MaxNippard]

Plus one on that recommendation! It's a lot of fun.

[@infernalcontraptions8648]

Its a great book but I still think its comment on chlorine triflouride is the best part.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

Read it a couple months ago during a train trip, thoroughly enjoyable!

[@D4narchy]

As someone who is interested in all the sciences including chemistry, but who hasn't studied chemistry.... that book was very hard to follow. It would help to have a higher understanding of chemistry. Just an FYI for anyone else, still recommended though!

[@sixstringedthing]

Pretty sure that it's at position #1 on the Required Reading list for any fool who's interested in energetic chemistry, rocketry, or just Space Stuff generally. So much fundamental knowledge, and so charmingly and amusingly presented. I'm seeking recommendations for any other books about chemistry that have the same irreverant spark about them, @ me if you've got something. Cheers! :)

[@ericlightner1832]

As a aircraft mechanic on F-16 I worked with H-70 (70% Hydrazine, 30% water) for years. We're always told of its toxicity and that just smelling it was over the exposure limit. This was an awesome video to see just how it reacts to other chemicals. Thanks for the video.

[@dutchovenvids]

I’m watching this video because I just got some on my hand today working on the EPU… oops

[@Hell_Hound_Actual]

@ericlightner1832 Thank you for your service. From a former USAF SOWT / AFSPECWAR SR guy. It was really fun to watch someone do these little experiments in this video. One might be surprised how many of these chemicals are used in various types of shape charges, particularly used for things like busting doors open.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Why would that be part of the job description? As a son of a man who was a fuel truck driver ( I do not remember what the MOS was called in the 1990s and I know according to an acquaintance who did that, more recently it's called something different now) in the Army, I can see the small possibility of someone with his MOS being tasked with transporting the stuff, but a maintainer?

[@robertperry9466]

​

[@nemesis91101]

Sooo smelling it is death?

[@sevenravens]

I worked for Lonza, the only manufacturer of hydrazine. It’s used for a rocket propellant primarily for satellite repositioning in space and aircraft ejection seats. It is the most highly compressible fluid with the advantageous effects known to man. Hence, it can be contained in a small space, limiting space and weight.

[@austinhachey2683]

I think this is your best video yet. It’s amazing to watch your channel over the years. I’m now just weeks away from finishing my PhD in chemistry - I’ve been watching for years and still find your videos amazing.

[@shivjikhanath3586]

same , just start phd

[@mikekushnir3950]

Literally no one: ChemicalForce: pours liquid OsO4 into hydrazine. I love it.

[@classicaudioadventures]

You would be nominated for (and probably win) a Nobel prize for chemical reaction photography, if they had one. Thanks for all the incredible footage!

[@overlord3481]

Nobel prize cringe. He deserves better.

[@SilvaDreams]

Eh, if anything he should talk to someone like the Slow Mo Guys and he could record in hundreds of thousands frames a second and you actually get a good view of the reaction happening

[@dirtyfiendswithneedles3111]

As a photographer, I couldn’t agree more. This guy has captured cinematic lightning in a bottle as far as I’m concerned on a number of instances. I only wish he could actually be recognized for it, or at least have a couple million subscribers like he at the very least deserves.

[@dirtyfiendswithneedles3111]

@@SilvaDreamsalso a slow mo collab would be the only way to increase the artistic quality of some of these reactions. Genius

[@darylcheshire1618]

RIP thousands of watch glasses

[@CoughSyrup]

I cant imagine what a laborious process it must have been cleaning up after each one of these reactions. Thank you for doing this. Very educational.

[@acronus]

Exotic, dangerous, and utterly impressive. Keep up the great work!

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

He is a Artist too. Please tell him that.

[@laboratoryofliptakov8157]

6:12....birth of black hole.....👀

[@KomradZX1989]

Your access to rare and dangerous chemicals never ceases to amaze me. I’m always coming back to see what you’re getting into next! ❤

[@DynamicSeq]

He is definitely on some government list....

[@skyethebi]

I would be very interested in seeing a video about what kinds of lab safety equipment you have and what precautions you take when filming reactions like these. You work with so many horrifically toxic and explosive compounds and I think that a very interesting (and important) part of working with those compounds is how to not die while working with them.

[@lolvks]

Another use of Hydrazine is in the emergency power unit of the F-16 fighter jet. H70 (70/30 mix of hydrazine and water) is decomposed using a catalyst (I believe iridium or platinum), and the gas from the decomposing H70 is used to spin a turbine powering an electric generator and hydraulic pump. The EPU is installed in case the F-16 engine, the electrical generators or hydraulic pumps fail in flight. the H70 gives 10 minutes of emergency power for the pilot to restart the engine or find a safe place to land/eject.

[@aryav1769]

I'm surprised this channel hasn't hit 1 million subscribers yet. It comprises every reactions that are mentioned in my textbook 🤩 thanks a lot

[@anchorbait6662]

The quality of this is amazing. Can't believe we got this all in one video

[@joela.4058]

watching the various compounds combining in slo-mo really brings to light some of the intermolecular forces that are unfolding. Goes to show how important the physical aspects of each reactant are in forming a reaction. For example, the N204 is not particularly soluble with the hydrazine and despite them being extremely reactive, it takes a sec for them to overcome each others repulsions

[@jannejohansson3383]

That video is so nice quality overall. Nitric acid and devils poison will react hard too, I think those have used in some rockets too..

[@herrbrahms]

"it takes a sec for them to overcome each others repulsions" Now you know how my wife and I feel about each other.

[@MrMilarepa108]

If anyone was gonna make a video with actual hydrazine, it must be you. Thanks for existing.

[@SirWuffleton]

The bromine reaction is very satisfying to watch - love how the gasses rise in a mostly uniform bubble that gets more chaotic as the hydrazine spreads out!

[@syntactyx]

every time I think Feliks can't up the ante, he goes and does it. absolutely incredible, as always. your videos never cease to leave me speechless.

[@THYZOID]

Badass! Great video. Also that beard microphone attachment is still genius.

[@Waiting_To_Retire]

I had to look several times. 😀

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

@@Waiting_To_Retire Me too, it is mesmerising.

[@soberguy0]

The Bromine and Hidrazine slow motion reaction was probably my favorite. I love how you have taken the cool parts of chemistry and turned it into a visual artistic experience.

[@mrarby9780]

I work at a place that makes hydrazine, cool to see someone playing with it the way I wish I could.

[@jesscorbin5981]

Is it true that you can also make it with NaOH, Bleach, and a Urea solution?

[@mduckernz]

@@jesscorbin5981 It takes (quite a bit) more work to convert into this kind of anhydrous form. Salt forms (like sulphate) and hydrates can indeed be made this way, yes

[@jesscorbin5981]

@@mduckernz great, thanks

[@pyr0duck676]

I loved the OsO4 reaction! Keep up the great work!!!

[@landscapingspecialist]

I could watch this all day. Not sure it gets old.

[@Progamezia]

THE BANGER IS OUT! Cannot wait to watch it.Can't thank you enough for making these videos.

[@NikitaOsito]

2:36 That looks so much cooler than I would have ever expected.

[@BackMacSci]

The clips around 6:00!! Beautiful work, ChemicalForce, thank you for capturing this.

[@bersl2]

In case you didn't understand how important it is to get a good pattern for fuel and oxidizer mixing in a rocket, 8:33 is a perfect visual example. EDIT: Holy crap, that OsO4 reaction is maximally violent.

[@empmachine]

your mic positioning cracked me up! I can't believe nobody (i've seen) has done that before.. It makes a surprising amount of sense. Oh.. and super cool footage as always!! you rock dude!

[@empmachine]

I really should watch the whole thing before commenting, but let me add that you should totally colab with the @theslowmoguys for the super fast explosions (like hydrazine and OsO4) . I bet they'd jump on the new thing (I can't remember them ever recording stuff like you do)

[@crabmansteve6844]

Hydrazine compounds, specifically UDMH are my favorite chemicals in the world. Reading Ignition! by John Drury Clark when I was a child really stuck with me.

[@glebanful]

Anhydrous hydrazine with OsO4, what the hell! Amazing video as always!

[@besimatalay7839]

These reactions and your video footages are absolutely sublime, but why are you no longer showing the equations? You used to do this, and I don't understand why you stopped.

[@ravencrovax]

It feels like he stopped doing the equations about the time he got and started using his slow mo camera. I have no direct evidence for that, but having watched the videos since before he got it; that is what it seems like to me.

[@daled4191]

When he heated dry ice, that was definitely sublime!

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

The hell are you talking about there's equations throughout the video.

[@trig1dentity]

10:58

[@landscapingspecialist]

Some of the coolest footage I’ve seen ever.

[@siamuddin4508]

I just love the amount of quality and information this guy puts in each video.

[@omnirath]

Finally found something for Christmas thanks !

[@srideepprasad]

This channel has the most cinematic chemistry videos... A perfect harmony of science and audio visual art

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

I remember filling hydrazine tanks on F-16s in the Air Force. There's a tank inside and below the vertical stabilizer that serves as emergency fuel for the engine. It's just enough to allow them to land but the tank is pretty tiny, about half the size of a SCUBA tank IIRC so you can get an idea how potent this stuff is if such a tiny amount can power a massive jet engine for a decent length of time.

[@dutchovenvids]

No actually the hydrazine tank sits just behind the cockpit on the right side of the aircraft. I think you’re mistaking it for the flight control accumulators which are below the vertical stabilizer.

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

@@dutchovenvids then when I made the straps that held them on and installed them I must have been looking at the wrong pages in the technical orders that described everything in detail? I was putting hydrazine in the wrong tank? I'm not trying to be being rude or anything but I did actually handle these tanks as a crew chief and aircraft structural maintainer ("sheet metal"). This was in the late 90's early 2000s so maybe they were moved, I really don't know anything that has been changed in the last 15 years. That's is interesting though.

[@dutchovenvids]

@@dickJohnsonpeter I don’t know what to tell you other than I actively work on F-16s every day as a Crew Chief and have been for years. I can assure you with total confidence that there is only one hydrazine reservoir and it is where I said it was, right in front of the Emergency Power Unit. Matter of fact I just installed an EPU today and accidentally got some hydrazine on my bare hand… when the tank cap came off.

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

@@dutchovenvids Then I'll just say nice to meet a fellow Airman.

[@105661105661]

Dan is right, 2a674 here (fuel systems tech) been on multiple hyrazine responses and swapped plenty of bottles Also it only powers the hydraulic and electrical systems not the engine

[@Reeuwijk78]

For the OsO4-Hydrazine reaction we are gonna need "The Slow-mo guys" Wow! Also great idea to clip the mic in your beard.

[@TheTeflonTranny]

Enthralling as always. One of the best and most underrated channels on KZbin..

[@pezboy715]

This channel just keeps getting better and better

[@mmdirtyworkz]

Slowmo was sooo satisfying to watch, thank you for the effort taken!

[@andreimj]

It's absolutely incredible how I stay with my moth open of amazement every time I'm watching a video of yours :))))

[@harvesterofpingas]

The chemistry is most interesting, but I was also very impressed by the sound track, especially the synchronisation with the detonations!

[@samiamm5764]

I’ve seen videos of rivers flowing under the sea and under water lakes. But seeing the burning rain fall through the dancing flames is a whole new level of mind blown 🤯🤩

[@geoffreyentwistle8176]

The Osmium tetroxide reaction was unsettling; the explosion was one thing, but the second drop hitting glass and ALSO exploding makes me realize that high energy chemistry takes a special kind of madness... XD

[@paulochikuta330]

the n2o reaction is just stunning

[@hamentaschen]

4:57 Whoa!! That has got to be the coolest explosion I've ever seen!

[@zyxwvutsrqponmlkh]

Some of the most stunning chemistry I have ever seen. Thank you.

[@einfisch3891]

Wow, this video has some absolutely incredible shots. I mean just absolutely beautiful reactions.

[@kindlin]

You have so much fun lining up the music to the reactions lol EDIT: Oh wow, 13:00 to 14:00 you had a lot of fun slightly adjusting the speeds to keep hitting each bass drop.

[@mapleleaf4ever]

That is some of the coolest slow-motion footage I've seen in a long time.

[@cyber-gonk5281]

Awesome stuff, like always!

[@lugarial]

What a masterpiece, another beautiful video !

[@Auroral_Anomaly]

This is a true classic CF video.

[@executive]

Magnificent footage. Nice work!

[@Life_42]

I'm happy to have watched this during the last 30 minutes of 2022! Greetings from Miami, South Florida!

[@InputEmitter]

Chemical reactions like this are so beautiful, and fascinating. Thank you for these experiments, and keep up the amazing work! Also, that microphone placement is spot on

[@scisher3294]

That slow-mo hydrazine + NO2 reaction… just WOW 😯

[@BackYardScience2000]

Hell yeah, nice! If I could post a GIF, it'd be Mr Burns sitting in his chair, running his fingers together saying "excellent.". Lol!

[@gnored]

Beautiful slow motion video. And each reaction so different from another!

[@RryhhbfrHhgdHhgd356]

23:04 I think nothing says how terrifying liquid fluorine is better than the fact that even this guy wanted nothing to do with it. 😂

[@D3adP00I]

I honestly expected these reactions to be more violent. Great video.

[@amarissimus29]

This is really well done. Thank you. So much garbage on youtube, it's hard to find even halfway original stuff. Really makes you appreciate the power it takes for a rocket to reach escape velocity. Imagine the difficulties involved in reacting TONS of hypergolic propellants in exactly the right amounts, at just the right time and place, while sitting in tanks on top of each other and rattling around under tremendous forces. Not surprising that many just exploded.

[@ussrgovernment2545]

i cant describe how happy i am if been waiting forever four this now its her 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@EdwardTriesToScience]

its really interesting to see that the hydrazine fumes from the test tube are actually igniting from the N2O4 on the pipette at 12:08

[@kayliibensen387]

The Nitrous Oxide addition was beautiful in slow motion. It looked like Fire Spirits dancing on the surface of the Hydrazine!

[@aformalevent]

Incredible video! Thank you so much for share this amazing work! Some really gorgeous and exotic reaction. The oxygen rain lighting up on its way down and the little flame balls bouncing off the hydrazine is some of the most beautiful footage I've ever seen! I love this so much :) absolutely fantastic video!

[@xunicholas165]

The quality of these videos are amazing!

[@thndrlngs]

Ayyee, that's a pretty nice hoodie you've got on my friend! Was kind of shocked when I first started the video. I'm a born and raised West Virginian, and am typing this very comment from the heart of the southern WV coal fields. I had some great times up at the WVU campus in my younger days and you'll never see me rooting for another college team on the gridiron (Marshall can pound sand). Glad to see that intellect and good choice in college football teams go hand-in-hand! Thanks for another fascinating video, and I hope you have a happy new year!

[@danieljmitro]

So satisfying. Thank you.

[@BradfordGuy]

Thoroughly loved your video! The reactions were tremendous to outrageous and then violent. New sub here!

[@brianford6729]

Epic! One of your best videos yet - thx!

[@ChristianMiersch]

Cheeky placement of the microphone, love it!

[@nombreapellido9038]

How can something so terrifying be so beautiful at the same time? I am truly conflicted.

[@vasilypupkin2107]

The best and impressive video I've ever seen so far! Thank you!

[@nitroxlp9813]

These are incredible shots, science is awesome. Great video! ;)

[@StrivetobeDust]

the reaction with N2O in slow motion is very beautiful!!

[@blackbear92201]

Beautiful! thanks for posting! :D

[@nigeldepledge3790]

Amazing footage! This has got to be the best chemistry channel on the Internet. Incidentally, if you watch footage of rocket failures from the 1960s, you can often see a huge cloud of orange-brown vapour leaving the site of the failure. This, of course, is NO2 gas, coming from the N2O4 oxidiser.

[@hugoturbill6067]

One of the most criminally underated channels out there

[@100-pc-notbot]

the slo-mo video content is gorgeous!

[@theodoreackerson1442]

Its great to see reactions that not many would be able to see.

[@randyhavard6084]

Incredible footage of these reactions

[@esmenhamaire6398]

Being a geberal science and rocketry nerd with only a smattering of chemistry knowledge, but one that has read the book "Ignition!", I have to say, I never thought I'd ever see anything involving hydrazine that made me think "Ooh, pretty!" You have my utmost respect, Sir - but I'm still glad there's an ocean between me and you when you are doing these presentations! Subbed :-)

[@ChemicalForce]

Why do you think so, maybe I'm your neighbor :D

[@meditationandhealthyliving9602]

Dude I just love the quality of these vids.

[@Unsensitive]

I loved chemistry as a child. I drew up plans to make a small sulfuric acid production process.. but for some reason my parents wouldn't let me. Life took me another route though . I remember learning about hydrazine. Always wanted to get my hands on some; Appreciate the video.

[@j.r.j-ia802]

That's the worst parents.

[@petevenuti7355]

I tried as a kid, I basically fumigated the house with sulphur dioxide, almost died, couldn't breathe for a bit even after getting out of the house, all the silver in the house became pitted, even on the second floor. My mom tossed my homemade chemistry set over the backyard fence after,(that included Mercury and uranium ore..) I wasn't left unsupervised for the next 6 years... I think that's why I was in such a rush to move out before I was 18.. I wonder, what if I wasn't constantly discouraged.....

[@Barnekkid]

Really enjoyed that. Wonderful reactions.

[@trespire]

Every F-16 has a small fuel tank full of hydrazine. We had a specially trained maintenance crew who would perform any work required, no one else was even allowed near. Women, of child bearing age, were strictly forbiden to approache within several 100 meters of the remote hydrazine maintenance shop, way off at the edge of the base. This stuff scared the shit out of us.

[@peterwexler5737]

I can't figure out which I like more: the chemistry or the epic music choices.

[@francois-pellier]

Epic movies! Thanks you!

[@germancaperarojas4023]

Hydralazine is a hydrazine derivative used clinically as a vasodilator and antihypertensive agent. Despite numerous studies with the drug, its mechanism of action has remained unknown, but guanylate cyclase activation and release of endothelial relaxing factors are thought to be involved in its vasodilator effect. It's actual uses in medicine are as a potent anti hypertensive drug for hypertensive urgency or emergency, specially in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and suddenly onset preeclampsia or eclampsia hypertension.

[@altier1119]

How did they discover its effect without knowing its mechanism ? Random testing?

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Thanks for sharing have a merry Christmas

[@JoeSolo814]

Hydrazine has always fascinated me the most. What an amazing yet extremely toxic compound! Love it!

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

You deserve an award of some kind for that videography. Big blue ribbon from me... Perfect soundtrack also. peace and love.

[@chicoroth8679]

very, very impressive! you are one of my absolute favorites. thank you

[@jlr163380]

I wonder if this could some how be a cutting torch. This is beyond the most amazing chemistry video I've ever seen thank you!

[@timothyevans4323]

Back in the 1070’s a few lunatic drag racers experimented with hydrazine as a fuel additive for their dragsters. One of my family members, Bobbie Langley, was a pioneer of hydrazine in drag racing before it was banned.

[@Keerpeach]

Beautiful, thanks for video 👍

[@groundsounds1297]

Really enjoy these, think this is my favourite one. So many beautiful reactions.

[@tom23rd]

That was pretty epic!