Difference between revisions of "Nitrous oxide"

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'''Nitrous oxide''', also known as '''dinitrogen monoxide''', '''nitrogen protoxide''', '''nitrous''', '''nitro''', '''NOS''' or more popular '''laughing gas''' is a chemical compound with the formula N<sub>2</sub>O.
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{{Chembox
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| Name = Nitrous oxide
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| Reference =
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| IUPACName = Dinitrogen monoxide
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| PIN =
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| SystematicName =
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| OtherNames = Dinitrogen monoxide<br>Dinitrogen oxide<br>Hyponitrous oxide<br>Laughing gas<br>Protoxide of nitrogen<br>Sweet air
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| ImageFile = Melting nitrous oxide by ChemicalForce.jpg
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| ImageCaption = Frozen nitrous oxide melting in a vial
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| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
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| 3DMet =
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| Abbreviations =
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| SMILES =
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| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
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| AtmosphericOHRateConstant =
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| Appearance = Colorless gas
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| BoilingPt =
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| BoilingPtC = −88.48
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| BoilingPt_ref =
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| BoilingPt_notes =
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| Density = 1.266 g/L (-88.9 °C)<br>1.977 g/L (STP)
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| Formula = N<sub>2</sub>O
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| HenryConstant =
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| LogP = 0.36
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| MolarMass = 44.013 g/mol
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| MeltingPt =
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| MeltingPtC = −90.86
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| MeltingPt_ref =
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| MeltingPt_notes =
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| Odor = Slightly sweetish
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| pKa =
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| pKb =
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| Solubility = 1.5 g/L (15 °C)
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| SolubleOther = Soluble in [[alcohol]]s, [[ether]]s, [[sulfuric acid]]
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| Solvent =
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| Taste = Sweetish
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| VaporPressure = 4.29·10<sup>4</sup> mmHg at 25 °C
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| Section3 = {{Chembox Structure
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| Coordination =
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| MolShape = Linear
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| Section4 = {{Chembox Thermochemistry
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| DeltaGf =
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| DeltaHc =
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| DeltaHf = 82.05 kJ/mol
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| Entropy = 219.96 J·K<sup>−1</sup>·mol<sup>−1</sup>
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| Section6 = {{Chembox Hazards
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| AutoignitionPt = Non-flammable
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| ExploLimits =
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| ExternalMSDS = [https://www.docdroid.net/mnTxq4F/nitrous-oxide-sa.pdf.html Sigma-Aldrich]
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| FlashPt = Non-flammable
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| MainHazards = Oxidizer<br>Narcotic
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| OtherCompounds = [[Nitric oxide]]<br>[[Nitrogen dioxide]]
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}}
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'''Nitrous oxide''', also known as '''dinitrogen monoxide''', '''nitrogen protoxide''', '''nitrous''', '''nitro''', '''NOS''' or more popular '''laughing gas''' is a chemical compound with the formula '''N<sub>2</sub>O'''.
  
 
==Properties==
 
==Properties==
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==Availability==
 
==Availability==
−
Nitrous oxide is available as whippets.
+
Nitrous oxide is available as whippets. Medical grade nitrous oxide tanks are available in dentistry, though they are not easy to acquire by the average person.
  
 
==Preparation==
 
==Preparation==
 
Nitrous oxide is prepared by the careful decomposition of [[ammonium nitrate]], which results in nitrous oxide and [[water]] vapor.
 
Nitrous oxide is prepared by the careful decomposition of [[ammonium nitrate]], which results in nitrous oxide and [[water]] vapor.
  
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:NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub> → N<sub>2</sub>O + 2 H<sub>2</sub>O
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: NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub> → N<sub>2</sub>O + 2 H<sub>2</sub>O
  
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Due to the very low amount of secondary products, this reaction is preferred by many chemists.
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Due to the very low amount of secondary products, this reaction is preferred by many chemists, albeit molten ammonium nitrate can explode very easily, making this route dangerous.
 +
 
 +
A less dangerous route involves heating [[hydroxylammonium chloride]] with [[sodium nitrite]] yields nitrous oxide.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzSe3BDCkF8</ref>
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: NH<sub>2</sub>OH·HCl + NaNO<sub>2</sub> → N<sub>2</sub>O + NaCl + 2 H<sub>2</sub>O
  
 
Another way of preparing nitrous oxide involves heating a mixture of [[ammonium sulfate]] and [[sodium nitrate]].
 
Another way of preparing nitrous oxide involves heating a mixture of [[ammonium sulfate]] and [[sodium nitrate]].
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*Rockets
 
*Rockets
 
*[[Sodium azide]] synthesis
 
*[[Sodium azide]] synthesis
 +
*Laughing gas (medical grade only!)
  
 
==Handling==
 
==Handling==
 
===Safety===
 
===Safety===
  
−
Nitrous oxide has low toxicity and posses analgesic properties. Nitrogen protoxide is a strong oxidizer and should be kept away from any combustible materials.
+
Nitrous oxide has low toxicity and posses analgesic properties. It can be very addictive and its misuse can have a moderate to serious psychological and nervous impact. Nitrogen protoxide is a strong oxidizer and should be kept away from any combustible materials.
  
 
When obtaining it from ammonium nitrate, it's imperative to prevent the temperature from rising too high, as it may cause an explosion if large quantities are used. This isn't an issue with commercial AN, as it contains gypsum which acts as a stabilizer and reduces the risk of explosion.
 
When obtaining it from ammonium nitrate, it's imperative to prevent the temperature from rising too high, as it may cause an explosion if large quantities are used. This isn't an issue with commercial AN, as it contains gypsum which acts as a stabilizer and reduces the risk of explosion.
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*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=25886 4 ways to make nitrous oxide]
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=25886 4 ways to make nitrous oxide]
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=22566 Nitrous Oxide from Ammonium Nitrate]
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=22566 Nitrous Oxide from Ammonium Nitrate]
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*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=66304 Oxidizing properties of N2O]
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[[Category:Chemical compounds]]
 
[[Category:Chemical compounds]]
 
[[Category:Inorganic compounds]]
 
[[Category:Inorganic compounds]]

Latest revision as of 17:05, 8 January 2020

Nitrous oxide
Melting nitrous oxide by ChemicalForce.jpg
Frozen nitrous oxide melting in a vial
Names
IUPAC name
Dinitrogen monoxide
Other names
Dinitrogen monoxide
Dinitrogen oxide
Hyponitrous oxide
Laughing gas
Protoxide of nitrogen
Sweet air
Properties
N2O
Molar mass 44.013 g/mol
Appearance Colorless gas
Odor Slightly sweetish
Density 1.266 g/L (-88.9 °C)
1.977 g/L (STP)
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 alcohols, ethers, sulfuric acid
Vapor pressure 4.29·104 mmHg at 25 °C
Thermochemistry
219.96 J·K−1·mol−1
82.05 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet Sigma-Aldrich
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Related compounds
 Nitric oxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Nitrous oxide, also known as dinitrogen monoxide, nitrogen protoxide, nitrous, nitro, NOS or more popular laughing gas is a chemical compound with the formula N2O.

Properties

Chemical

Nitrous oxide is an oxidizer. Unlike other nitrogen oxides, nitrous oxide does not react with water to form nitric acids.

Physical

Nitrous oxide is a colorless, non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is poorly soluble in water, but more soluble in several organic solvents such as ethanol, diethyl ether, as well as sulfuric acid. 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 anaesthetic.

Availability

Nitrous oxide is available as whippets. Medical grade nitrous oxide tanks are available in dentistry, though they are not easy to acquire by the average person.

Preparation

Nitrous oxide is prepared by the careful decomposition of ammonium nitrate, which results in nitrous oxide and water vapor.

NH4NO3 → N2O + 2 H2O

Due to the very low amount of secondary products, this reaction is preferred by many chemists, albeit molten ammonium nitrate can explode very easily, making this route dangerous.

A less dangerous route involves heating hydroxylammonium chloride with sodium nitrite yields nitrous oxide.[1]

NH2OH·HCl + NaNO2 → N2O + NaCl + 2 H2O

Another way of preparing nitrous oxide involves heating a mixture of ammonium sulfate and sodium nitrate.

2 NaNO3 + (NH4)2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2 N2O+ 4 H2O.

Another route involves heating a mixture of urea, nitric acid and sulfuric acid between 40-100°C and purifying N2O from resulting gaseous products:

2 (NH2)2CO + 2 HNO3 + H2SO4 → 2 N2O + 2 CO2 + (NH4)2SO4 + 2 H2O[2]

Projects

  • Rockets
  • Sodium azide synthesis
  • Laughing gas (medical grade only!)

Handling

Safety

Nitrous oxide has low toxicity and posses analgesic properties. It can be very addictive and its misuse can have a moderate to serious psychological and nervous impact. Nitrogen protoxide is a strong oxidizer and should be kept away from any combustible materials.

When obtaining it from ammonium nitrate, it's imperative to prevent the temperature from rising too high, as it may cause an explosion if large quantities are used. This isn't an issue with commercial AN, as it contains gypsum which acts as a stabilizer and reduces the risk of explosion.

Storage

Nitrous oxide cylinders should be stored in cold places, away from any organic materials, as it is a strong oxidizer and a fire hazard.

Disposal

Nitrous oxide will eventually break down in air into nitrogen and oxygen, and does not generate any toxic byproducts. This reaction is sped up by reducing agents.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzSe3BDCkF8
  2. ↑ https://erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/nitrous.html

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

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