Nitrous oxide

N₂O
CAS Number 10024-97-2
UN1070 (gas)
UN2201 (refrigerated liquid)

Molecule
Properties
Applications
Safety & Compatibility
Learn More

Click & drag to move the 3D molecule

Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate the volume or mass of a quantity of gas or liquid

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Gas Phase

In standard conditions (1.013 bar, 15°C)

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Physical Properties

Download the set of data (XLS - 68.78 KB)

General Properties
Solid Phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

Molecule phase diagram showing the transition phases between solid, liquid and gas as a function of temperature and pressure

Pressure (bar)

- Molar mass 44.013 g/mol
- Content in dry air 0.33 ppm
Critical Point
- Temperature 36.42 °C
- Pressure 72.45 bar
- Density 451.88 kg/m³
Triple Point
- Temperature -90.82 °C
- Pressure 8.785E-1 bar

Pressure 1.013 bar

Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)	148.57 kJ/kg
Melting point	- 90.82 °C

Pressure 1.013 bar

Boiling point	- 88.47 °C
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)	374.286 kJ/kg
Liquid density (at boiling point)	1230.458 kg/m³

Pressure 1.013 bar

0 °C
15 °C
25 °C

Compressibility factor Z	9.928E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2933
Gas density (at boiling point)	2.981 kg/m³
Gas density	1.9774 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	618.241 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	8.5873E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	6.6398E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	1.53
Specific volume	5.057E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	16.464 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	32.1176 bar
Viscosity	1.3631E-4 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9391E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2853
Gas density	1.8724 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	652.95 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	8.7347E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	6.7959E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	5.932E-4 mol/mol
Specific gravity	1.53
Specific volume	5.341E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	17.651 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	45.9221 bar
Viscosity	1.436E-4 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9453E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2804
Gas density	1.8084 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	676.02 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	8.8312E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	6.8972E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	4.386E-4 mol/mol
Specific gravity	1.53
Specific volume	5.53E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	18.445 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	57.2912 bar
Viscosity	1.4841E-4 Po

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Electronic components

In semiconductor and display manufacturing, nitrous oxide can be the oxygen source for Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) of silicon oxynitride (doped or undoped) or silicon dioxide.

Food

Nitrous oxide is used as gas propellant for aerosols packaging.

Hospital care

Nitrous Oxide is used in anesthesia or in analgesia

Laboratories & Research Centers

Nitrous oxide is used as fuel gas for the flame in atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It is used in calibration gas mixtures for petrochemical industry, environmental emission monitoring, industrial hygiene monitors and trace impurity analyzers.

Other

Nitrous oxide is used as combustive for the engine of scale models.

Pharma & Biotech

Nitrous oxide is used as gas propellant for aerosols packaging.

Safety & Compatibility

Major Hazards
Material Compatibility

GHS03

Oxidising

GHS04

Gas under pressure

Odor

Sweet

Metals

Aluminium	Satisfactory
Brass	Risk of stress corrosion cracking Acceptable
Monel	No data
Copper	No data
Ferritic Steel	Satisfactory
Stainless steel	Satisfactory
Zinc	No data
Titanium	No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride	Violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Acceptable
Polyvinyl chloride	Violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Not recommended
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene	No data
Polycarbonate	No data
Polyamide	Satisfactory
Polypropylene	Violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Not recommended

Elastomers

Butyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber	Significant swelling, violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Not recommended
Nitrile rubber	Significant swelling, violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Not recommended
Chloroprene	Significant swelling, violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Not recommended
Chlorofluorocarbons	No data
Silicone	Satisfactory
Perfluoroelastomers	Significant swelling Not recommended
Fluoroelastomers	Significant swelling Not recommended
Neoprene	No data
Polyurethane	Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene	Significant swelling, violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Acceptable

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant	Violent reaction (oxidation/burning) Not recommended
Fluorocarbon based lubricant	Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

Learn More

More information

The gas was first synthesized by English natural philosopher and chemist Joseph Priestley in 1772, who called it "phlogisticated nitrous air". On Earth, it occurs naturally in soil and oceans. It is produced by the combustion of organic or fossils matters, particularly in industry. The massive use of nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers has contributed to increase the level of nitrous oxide found in soil. At normal temperature and pressure, nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas. Dissolved in water, it tastes slightly sweet. Because of its chemical formula, it is a source of oxygen that may be useful in electronics, for depositions in the gaseous phase and as an oxidant to improve gas-fueled engines performance.