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Laughing gas

Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide's canonical forms
Ball-and-stick model with bond lengths
Space-filling model of nitrous oxide
Names
IUPAC name
Dinitrogen monoxide
Other names
Laughing gas, Sweet air, Protoxide of nitrogen, Hyponitrous oxide
Identifiers
3D model (Jmol)
8137358
ChEBI
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.017
E number E942 (glazing agents, ...)
2153410
KEGG
PubChem CID
RTECS number QX1350000
UNII
UN number 1070 (compressed)
2201 (liquid)
Properties
N
2
O
Molar mass 44.013 g/mol
Appearance colorless gas
Density 1.977 g/L (gas)
Melting point −90.86 °C (−131.55 °F; 182.29 K)
Boiling point −88.48 °C (−127.26 °F; 184.67 K)
1.5 g/L (15 °C)
Solubility soluble in alcohol, ether, sulfuric acid
log P 0.35
Vapor pressure 5150 kPa (20 °C)
−18.9·10−6 cm3/mol
1.000516 (0 °C, 101,325 kPa)
Structure
linear, C∞v
0.166 D
Thermochemistry
219.96 J K−1 mol−1
+82.05 kJ mol−1
Pharmacology
N01AX13 (WHO)
  • US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Inhalation
Pharmacokinetics:
0.004%
5 minutes
Respiratory
Hazards
Safety data sheet Ilo.org, ICSC 0067
NFPA 704
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g., water Health code 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g., chloroform Reactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g., liquid nitrogen Special hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g., potassium perchlorateNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
Flash point Nonflammable
Related compounds
Related nitrogen oxides
Nitric oxide
Dinitrogen trioxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Dinitrogen tetroxide
Dinitrogen pentoxide
Related compounds
Ammonium nitrate
Azide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or nitrous, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula N
2
O
. At room temperature, it is a colorless, odorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet taste. At elevated temperatures, nitrous oxide is a powerful oxidizer similar to molecular oxygen.

Nitrous oxide has significant medical uses, especially in surgery and dentistry, for its anaesthetic and analgesic effects. Its name "laughing gas" is due to the euphoric effects of inhaling it, a property that has led to its recreational use as a dissociative anaesthetic. It is also used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants, and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines.

Nitrous oxide occurs in small amounts in the atmosphere, but has been found recently to be a major scavenger of stratospheric ozone, with impact comparable to that of CFCs. It is estimated that 30% of the N
2
O
in the atmosphere is the result of human activity, chiefly agriculture.

Nitrous oxide can be used as an oxidizer in a rocket motor. This has the advantages over other oxidisers in that it is not only non-toxic, but also, due to its stability at room temperature, easy to store and relatively safe to carry on a flight. As a secondary benefit it can be readily decomposed to form breathing air. Its high density and low storage pressure (when maintained at low temperature) enable it to be highly competitive with stored high-pressure gas systems.


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