Synthesis of Hydrazine Sulfate: Part 1

Hydrazine sulfate is prepared from readily available chemicals using the Hofmann rearrangement. Workup of the product is designed to prevent exposure to toxic hydrazine fumes, an important consideration for the amateur experimenter lacking a fume hood. The mechanism of the Hofmann rearrangement is also discussed. The intro music clip is from "Stealing Fat" by The Dust Brothers. I believe this falls under fair use.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hydrazine
• sulfate
• hydrazinium
• bisulfate
• synthesis
• chemistry
• amateur
• mechanism
• Hofmann

[g3ov4n12]

I dont got it, why you heated when you were pouring the hypochlorite/hydroxide?

[UC235]

@g3ov4n12 I only heated after mixing the two solutions and the foam subsided. The color change indicates the reaction progress and it will not go colorless without heating nearly to boiling.

[TakronRust]

Your glassware looks immaculate. It doesn't look like it's ever been used. lol

[UC235]

@TakronRust I take good care of my equipment. It wasn't free. Also, especially with organic chem, sometimes small traces of contaminants can mess up a reaction so you get used to cleaning everything very thoroughly.

[RatkoUSA]

@UC235 Do you cook your glassware in the oven after cleaning? I've found that doing so for approximately 30 minutes at 450-475 degrees removes most traces of contaminants and water left behind from the washing process.

[UC235]

@RatkoUSA I usually use the convect setting at ~130C to dry the glass in a short amount of time.

[98JMA]

@ChemCrazy81

Try it and tell us!

[98JMA]

Can I use bleach instead of the hypochlorite solution?

[lexichronicle2]

Emulsions sometimes split if given a ride through the freezer :P

Domestic freezer will reach a solid -30C if left on super freeze for a good while. It may take a day or two to cool all the contents from -18 down to the limit, as the pump has zero heat moving capacity at -30C

[lexichronicle2]

@Aranwu There are absolutely tons of methods, ranging from biological washing powder (which works extremely well on tars) to things that are carcinogenic and explosion hazards. The method of cleaning it depends on what's in it to begin with. The more extreme methods aren't always the best.

Common options are, biological, KOH / NaOH (in water or alcohol), sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric, nitric and ethanol, chromic acid, persulphate and sulphuric, piranha and heat, oh... & a brush on a stick

[ChemCrazy81]

Can you mix the MEK directly with the urea and then add the hypochlorite like in the ketazine process?