Why is nitrous oxide used in rocket fuels and racing cars?
Nitrous oxide supports combustion better than air does. The N2O molecule dissociates at temperatures well below what is required for combustion, delivering an atom of oxygen and freeing molecular nitrogen: N2O(g) rightarrow N2(g) + O(g) The free oxygen atom quickly reacts with the fuel. A huge gain in horsepower results, since more fuel can be burned in less time. If there is a large excess of nitrous oxide in the engine, the fuel will detonate. At the extremely high temperature produced by the explosion, oxygen atoms freed by decomposing N2O will attack the engine metal, severely damaging it.
Nitrous oxide supports combustion better than air does. The N2O molecule dissociates at temperatures well below what is required for combustion, delivering an atom of oxygen and freeing molecular nitrogen: N2O(g) N2(g) + O(g) The free oxygen atom quickly reacts with the fuel. A huge gain in horsepower results, since more fuel can be burned in less time. If there is a large excess of nitrous oxide in the engine, the fuel will detonate. At the extremely high temperature produced by the explosion, oxygen atoms freed by decomposing N2O will attack the engine metal, severely damaging it.
