| Nitrous Oxide is a chemical compound whose chemical | | | | Priestley declared that he had discovered air that |
| formula is N2O and is commonly known as laughing | | | | was six times as good as common air. A few years |
| gas. At room temperature Nitrous Oxide is a colorless | | | | later Humphrey Davy and a group of poets tested |
| and nonflammable gas, with a sweet taste and odor. | | | | the gas and made further discovery, that Nitrous |
| Nitrous Oxide is the major naturally occurring | | | | Oxide dulled the sensation of pain when inhaled, even |
| regulator of stratospheric ozone. In surgery it is used | | | | when the inhaler was semi-conscious. This led to its |
| as an anesthetic. After inhaling it one feels a euphoric | | | | use as an anesthetic in surgery and dentistry. |
| effect and this has led to its use as a recreational | | | | In vehicle racing Nitrous Oxide is used to increase |
| inhalant drug. In rocketry and in motor racing Nitrous | | | | combustion by causing the engine burn more fuel and |
| Oxide is used to increase engine power output. It | | | | air. Though the gas is not flammable it delivers more |
| does this by increasing air and fuel intake that is | | | | oxygen than atmospheric air by breaking down at |
| burnt in the cylinders. | | | | elevated temperatures. Nitrous Oxide is stored in |
| Nitrous Oxide gas was first synthesized by the | | | | form of compressed liquid. When the liquid Nitrous |
| natural philosopher and English chemist Joseph | | | | Oxide expands and evaporates in the intake manifold, |
| Priestley in 1775. He named the gas phlogisticated | | | | it causes the intake charge temperature to drop |
| nitrous air. He described the preparation of nitrous air | | | | considerably. This process results in a denser charge |
| diminished through heating iron fillings that were | | | | allowing more air and fuel mixture into the cylinder |
| dampened with nitric acid. After his discovery Joseph | | | | powering the engine further. |