Hydrazine
/ˈhaɪ.drə.ziːn/noun
A colorless, highly toxic, reactive liquid compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula N₂H₄.
Did you know?Hydrazine became important in rocketry because it decomposes rapidly into hot gases and can ignite hypergolically, meaning it may burn on contact with certain oxidizers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wódr̥
“Water; the reconstructed ancient root behind many later words for water.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
hýdōr (ὕδωρ)
“Water; the source of the scientific combining form hydr-.”
1783
French
hydrogène
“Hydrogen, literally formed from Greek roots meaning “water-forming,” because burning hydrogen produces water.”
19th Century
International scientific vocabulary
azo-
“A nitrogen-related combining form ultimately connected with Greek ázōos, “lifeless,” reflecting the old belief that nitrogen could not support life.”
1887
German
Hydrazin
“The chemical name introduced for the nitrogen–hydrogen compound now called hydrazine.”
Modern English
English
hydrazine
“A highly reactive and poisonous N₂H₄ compound used in chemical synthesis, aerospace propellants, and specialized fuels.”