Tell me more ×
Chemistry Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for scientists, academics, teachers and students. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

I'm trying to make rocket fuel by hydrazine and hydrogen peroxide with home products my question is: Is there any way to synthesize hydrazine with bleach and ammonia, using $\ce{H2SO4}$ as a catalyst? I wanna put an action figure in orbit.

Thanks in advance!

share|improve this question
1  
On a side notes: 1) hydrazine probably can be purchased via chemical stores, if you wish. It is quite dangerous: it gives toxic fumes and can decompose violently if proper catalyst is available. 2)hydrogen peroxide in hight concentrations is extremely dangerous staff. It can ignite some substances in high concentrations and inflicts painful wounds several minutes after touch with skin. I strongly encourage you to use something less hardcore: rocket candy for initial steps and nitric acid/(kerosene or alcohol) for liquid-fueled rocket. Do not do the second without much consultations!!!!!111111 – permeakra Dec 12 '12 at 17:02
1  
To underscore Permeakra's comment, if you don't have the proper experience, please consult someone that does. – jonsca♦ Dec 13 '12 at 0:19

1 Answer

up vote 3 down vote accepted

I sympathize with your desire to launch an action figure. However, the chemistry you propose is really dangerous. You would be better off with black-powder based rockets.

Is there any way to synthesize hydrazine with bleach and ammonia?

Do not do this.

My answer is not "yes" or "no". My answer is Don't. Do not try this without proper safety equipment and training, and then think twice or three times before doing so, and then have an ambulance standing by. Certainly don't do it at home, or by yourself.

This particular reaction is capable of producing hydrazine. However, it also producing a whole host of additional stuff, like chloramine, hydroxylamine, nitrogen trichloride, hydrogen chloride, and chlorine gas, all of which are either gases or volatile liquids, and all of which are poisonous. Hydrazine is poisonous. Nitrogen trichloride is a shock-sensitive explosive on the order of a sneeze can set it off. The reactions are as follows.

Chloramine: $$\ce{NH3 + HOCl -> Cl-NH2 + H2O}$$

Dichloramine: $$\ce{Cl-NH2 + HOCl -> NHCl2 + H2O}$$

Nitrogen trichloride: $$\ce{NHCl2 + HOCl -> NCl3 + H2O}$$

Hydrazine and HCl: $$\ce{NH3 + NH2Cl -> H2N-NH2 + HCl}$$

Hydroxylamine and HCl $$\ce{NH2Cl + H2O -> NH2OH + HCl}$$

Chlorine gas: $$\ce{HCl + HOCl -> H2O + Cl2}$$

Any organic impurities in the mix can lead to other deadly stuff being produced.

This reaction is not controllable to produce a single specific product. Everything it produces is poisonous and/or explosive. I will recommend against, and I will not help you find a recipe.

share|improve this answer
2  
Thank you so much. I will need some time for study and understand but moreover you told me I've read some information about it and I know why nasa stopped use it. Is quite dangerous and I haven't know and tools enough to manipulate those things. There will be better another alternative like black-powder based rockets. – Mirlo Dec 12 '12 at 19:51

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.