About
Dinitrogen oxide is a nitrogen oxide consisting of linear unsymmetrical molecules with formula N2O. While it is the most used gaseous anaesthetic in the world, its major commercial use, due to its solubility under pressure in vegetable fats combined with its non-toxicity in low concentrations, is as an aerosol spray propellant and aerating agent for canisters of 'whipped' cream. It has a role as an analgesic, a vasodilator agent, a general anaesthetic, an inhalation anaesthetic, a NMDA receptor antagonist, a member of greenhouse gas, a bacterial metabolite, a raising agent, a member of food packaging gas, a food propellant and a refrigerant. It is a gas molecular entity and a nitrogen oxide.