 | ||
Hydrazinium meaning
Hydrazinium is the cation with the formula N2H+
5. In some cases, "hydrazine" implies N2H+
5, e.g. the salt hydrazinium sulfate. Hydrazinium is derived from hydrazine by protonation (treatment with a strong acid). Salts of hydrazinium are common reagents in chemistry and are often used in certain industrial processes. Both are water-soluble, colorless salts. Hydrazinium is a weak acid with pKa = 8.1.
Contents
Hydrazinium azide
One of the most unusual (and more unstable) salts of hydrazinium is the azide. Hydrazine azide (N5H5), the salt of hydrazine and hydrazoic acid, is of scientific interest, because of its high nitrogen content and explosive properties. Structurally, it is [N
2H
5]+
[N
3]−
. It decomposes explosively into hydrazine, ammonia, and nitrogen gas:
5H
5 → 3 N
2H
4 + 16 NH
3 + 19 N
2
Hydrazinediium
Hydrazinium may be protonated to give a dication known as hydrazinediium or hydrazinium(2+); with the formula N2H2+
6. Reaction of hydrazinium azide with sulfuric acid gives quantitative yields of pure hydrazinediium sulfate and hydrazoic acid:
5][N−
3] + H2SO4 → [N2H2+
6][SO2−
4] + HN3
Hydrazinediium adopts an ethane-like structure.