2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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%.
7. 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.
8. • Works Cited
Davenport, 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
>.
General Chemistry Online. N.p., n.d. Web.
11 Apr. 2013. <
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/
>.
