Nitrous Oxide

By Alex McQuain

Basics

• Nitrous Oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, was discovered by Joseph Preistly.

• It became a very common anesthetic and it still is today.

• There are many other uses for Nitrous Oxide including propellant in whipped cream and an oxidizing agent in racecars.

The Molecule

• Nitrous Oxide is not very polar, which allows it to dissolve in fats and water easily.

• Companies that commercially produce it typically do so by gently heating ammonium nitrate to yield water and nitrous oxide.

• These are the two most important resonance structures.

Use as a sedative

• Laughing gas is actually a mix of 70% oxygen and 30% Nitrous Oxide.

• Affects the patient in less than 5 minutes.

• No ill affects after use• Creates Euphoria within the

patient.

• Stages of Sedation• 1.Tingling sensation.• 2. Followed by a warm feeling.• 3. Feeling of well-being,

hearing may dissolve into electronic throbbing.

• 4. Sleepiness, Nausea sets in, dream can occur.

Use as a propellant

• Nitrous oxide is often used as a whipped cream propellant because it dissolves readily in fats.

• It also foams and dissolves at release of pressure.

Use as an oxidizing agent

• Supports combustion better than regular air.• Molecule breaks at low temperature leaving pure

oxygen and nitrogen in the engine.• Boosts horsepower up to 50%.

Dangers

• Nitrous oxide is very useful, but it has setbacks.

• It can lead to a major explosion if used improperly in car engines

• When the gas expands, temperatures plummet and it can cause frostbite.

• Works CitedDavenport, Derek. Nitrous Oxide: By No Means a Laughing Matter. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.Dental Fear Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/sedation-dentistry/laughing-gas/>.General Chemistry Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/inorganic/faq/laughing-gas.shtml>.