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Why would rocket engineers design the rocket fuel "Hydrazine" to be the limiting reactant

User David Pope
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Final answer:

Rocket engineers design Hydrazine to be the limiting reactant to avoid the safety risks and inefficiency of carrying excess reactive fuels into space.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rocket engineers might design the rocket fuel Hydrazine to be the limiting reactant to ensure that no excess fuel is left after the reaction. This approach is crucial for safety and efficiency in space missions. Excess reactants can become hazardous as they add extra weight to the spacecraft and pose an explosion hazard.

In rocket chemistry, having Hydrazine as the limiting reactant means that it will be completely consumed, optimizing the thrust and avoiding the risks associated with leftover reactive materials. This careful stoichiometry is essential for the successful deployment and operation of rockets like the Space Shuttle or NASA's Space Launch System, which both depend on controlled chemical reactions to generate the necessary thrust for lift-off and maneuvering in orbit.

User Candance
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