Whittlein

Whittlein is a fictional chemical compound that appears in the novel "The Martian" by Andy Weir. In the story, the protagonist, Mark Watney, uses whittlein as a key component in a process to synthesize hydrazine. Hydrazine is a highly reactive chemical compound that can be used as rocket fuel.

Watney's plan involves reacting whittlein with iron(III) chloride and water. This reaction produces hydrazine and other byproducts. The whittlein is essential because it acts as a catalyst or a source of a specific chemical structure needed for the hydrazine synthesis. The exact chemical formula and properties of whittlein are not detailed in the novel, as it is a fictional substance created for the plot.

The use of whittlein in "The Martian" highlights the ingenuity and scientific problem-solving required for Watney's survival on Mars. His ability to improvise and utilize available or synthesizable materials, even fictional ones, is a central theme of the book. The whittlein serves as a plot device to enable Watney to achieve a critical task: creating fuel for his return journey. The scientific plausibility of whittlein and its reactions is secondary to its narrative function within the story.