Nitrous

Nitrous Oxide is a chemical compound with the formula N2O. It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects. It is known as "laughing gas" due to the euphoric effects of inhaling it, a property that has led to its recreational use as a dissociative anesthetic.

History

Joseph Priestley discovered nitrous oxide in 1772. Humphry Davy in the 1790s applied the gas to produce the first form of anesthesia, calling it 'laughing gas' due to its euphoric effects.

Medical uses

Nitrous oxide has been used for anesthesia in dentistry since the 19th century, and in surgery since the 20th century. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.

Recreational use

Recreational use of nitrous oxide for its euphoric effects can be dangerous, and, in rare cases, lethal. It is also used as an oxidizer in rocketry and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines.

Environmental impact

Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas. As a result, it is also an important indirect source of stratospheric water vapor, a major greenhouse gas.

See also

• Anesthesia
• Greenhouse gas
• Humphry Davy
• Joseph Priestley
• World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines

Nitrous Resources
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