Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas or nitrous, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen.
At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slight metallic scent and taste. At elevated temperatures, nitrous oxide is a powerful oxidizer similar to molecular oxygen.
Nitrous oxide has significant medical uses, especially in surgery and dentistry, for its anaesthetic and pain reducing effects. It also is used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants, and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines.