Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook American Heritage Coll. It is very soluble in water and soluble in alcohol. At ordinary temperatures it is a colorless, fuming liquid that has an ammonialike odor, but when frozen it forms white crystals. Hydrazine is corrosive and a strong reducing agent, but it is a weaker base than ammonia . The glue or gelatin inhibits decomposition of the hydrazine.
Ammonium chloride is a byproduct.
The chloramine may be prepared by reacting ammonia with a hypochlorite or chlorine gas. Hydrazine is also prepared by reaction of sodium hypochlorite with urea in the presence of glue or gelatin. The major use of hydrazine is as a rocket fuel because it burns rapidly, producing a large amount of heat. Isoniazid , a drug used in treatment of tuberculosis, is isonicotinic hydrazide. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.