Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a chemical compound with the formula N2O.Nitrous oxide can be used as an oxidizer in a rocket motor.In vehicle racing, nitrous oxide (often referred to as just "nitrous") allows the engine to burn more fuel by providing more oxygen than air alone, resulting in a more powerful combustion.Nitrous oxide is approved for use as a food additive (also known as E942), specifically as an aerosol spray propellant.Nitrous oxide has been used for anesthesia in dentistry since December 1844, where Horace Wells made the first 12–15 dental operations with the gas in Hartford.Nitrous oxide can cause analgesia, depersonalization, derealization, dizziness, euphoria, and some sound distortion.
