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How is nitrous oxide prepared?

April 26, 2017nitrous oxide prepared

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How is nitrous oxide prepared?

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The gas is present in trace amounts in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of high temperature reactions between nitrogen and oxygen. Industrially the gas is prepared by gently heating ammonium nitrate [Archibald]: NH4NO3(s) rightarrow 2 H2O(g) + N2O(g) The preparation is dangerous because of N2O’s tendency to explosively decompose into nitrogen and oxygen at high temperatures. (The World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombings involved detonation of nitrous oxide produced by rapid high temperature decomposition.) N2O manufactured this way should NOT be inhaled, because it is contaminated with NO2 (a corrosive, irritating gas that can cause permanent lung and genetic damage!