Does nitrous oxide support combustion?
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is used in internal combustion engines as a way of delivering more oxygen into the cylinder. It isn’t flammable itself, but when it is heated sufficiently, it separates into nitrogen and oxygen, and the oxygen is free to assist in the combustion of a fuel such as gasoline. It performs a task similar to that of a turbocharger (increasing the rate of oxygen delivery), but it uses a consumable tank of liquid, while the turbo uses a mechanical device to increase pressure, driving more oxygen into the engine.
