Propellant oxidation is the number of electrons that a propellant molecule will tend to take. Hydrogen atoms tend to give an electron, carbon atoms tend to give four electrons and oxygen atoms tend to take two electrons. Diatomic hydrogen has two reducing electrons and water has zero oxidizing electrons.

In a chemical combustion engine, propellants are sometimes used because they're safe and easy to handle. They lower the exhaust velocity; but, they lower the fuel handling costs and the engine cost. In a heated engine, like a resistor jet electric engine, hydrogen is usually chosen for its low molecular weight. Given propellant carbon, propellant hydrogen and propellant oxygen the propellant oxidation can be calculated which is in turn used along with fuel oxidation, oxidizer mix, oxidizer oxidation and propellant mix to calculate fuel molar.

propellant oxidation = 2 * propellant oxygen - 4 * propellant carbon - oxidizer hydrogen

oxidizer mix oxidation = oxidizer mix * oxidizer oxidation + propellant mix * propellant oxidation
reactant molar = oxidizer mix oxidation - fuel oxidation
fuel molar = oxidizer mix oxidation / reactant molar
 
 

This is used in tripropellant rocket, pumped rocket and rocket cost.
 
 

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