NITROUS OXIDE

dinitrogen monoxide’s (N2O) common name is nitrous oxide.Nitrous oxide is a colorless, nonfl ammable, nontoxic gas with a slightly sweet odor and taste. Nitrous oxide is produced by the thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate at approximately 240°C: NH4NO3(g) → N2O(g) + 2H2O(g).Nitrous oxide is an important greenhouse gas. Its atmospheric residence time is 120 years. A molecule of N2O has 310 times the potential for absorbing heat compared to a molecule of CO2. Nitrous oxide is stable and unreactive on the earth’s surface, but it can be transported to the stratosphere where it absorbs energy and is converted into reactive forms of nitrogen such as nitric oxide and the nitrate radical contributing to ozone destruction.