Liquid laughing gas supports combustion

I liquified a small amount of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) and put a burning piece of wood in it to see the result. The heat from the flame causes the nitrous oxide to decompose into nitrogen and oxygen, which supports combustion more vigorously than air.

[TheBackyardScientist]

The guys at the welding supply store told me that you can make solid nitrous oxide. and if you throw this type of 'dry ice' into water it explodes like sodium. Apparently somebody left a bottle cracked, and it started icing up around the valve. Have you heard of anything like that?

[GudMeuws]

You're like a KipKay but with much better equipment and ideas and without all the heavy sponsor callouts. I can't stop binge-watching your videos and drooling over your setup.

[pcorf]

N2O is a liquid at room temperature in a pressure cylinder. Its critical temperature and pressure is similar to CO2, 72 bars, 36 degrees C or 98F (when the liquid and gas phases merge). But in order to achieve 1 bar you have to cool down the vessel to -88 degrees C or -126.4 F and it freezes a couple of degrees lower.

[assburgers]

I cannot believe there was a video to answer this insane question I asked Google. Thanks, man.

[RimstarOrg]

I wonder what the thrust is of that test tube rocket. :)

[BigRedRockets]

Also, when nitrous decomposes, energy is released further assisting the burning reaction.

[mrclucker]

Cool to see the effect. This is used to good effect in car racing to boost the engine power by a considerable amount!

[unperrier]

What? You even didn't breathed it?

[USWaterRockets]

Cool! Now we need to see you make a liquid nitrous oxide injection system for your DeLorean!

[Erik_Swiger]

Ben must be a huge hit at parties. Just when things get interesting, he says, "Okay, see you next time, bye."

[WakeUpWolfgang]

I knew this before watching it. Some cars run off of NO2 and he explained why it works.

[garethdean]

This video was a real gas. Seriously, it was worth a laugh.

[NickMoore]

Sweet, does the liquid N2O ever touch the wood or does it make a leidenfrost bubble around it?

[JonathonKilhoffer]

Just gonna say I really enjoy your videos. I wonder what kind of background you must have to be part machinist, mathematician, mechanic, engineer, and chemist. I would guess an electrical engineer or a controls guy, as those guys typically know EVERYTHING.

[Anamnesia]

It would still be the gaseous form of the Nitrous Oxide decomposing, not the liquid phase, right?

[tobuslieven]

Wiki says liquid n2o mixed with acetylene could be a great rocket mono propellant, if you can avoid explosive decomposition. Any chance?

[spookywizard]

Do you know what the reaction equation is for nitrous oxide? What would the combustion products be? N2, CO2 and water for a hydrocarbon?

[girrrrrrr]

I have a quick video for you, i know its probably too simple... But can you hold a lit match in your cold trap, I just want to see what happens... 

It would be interesting to see how various items burn in extreme cold, if they burn at all.

[davidedgerly]

Why do I have this overwhelming urge to laugh?

[BlackWolf-]

Folks, nitrous oxide is N2O, nitrogen dioxide is NO2...