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Nitrous Oxide

What is Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a chemical compound with the formula N2O. It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. [1]

Food Use

The gas is approved for use as a food additive (also known as E942), specifically as an aerosol spray propellant. Its most common uses in this context are in aerosol whipped cream canisters, cooking sprays, and as an inert gas used to displace oxygen, to inhibit bacterial growth, when filling packages of potato chips and other similar snack foods. [1]


History

First important use of nitrous oxide, was made possible by Thomas Beddoes and the renowned engineer James Watt, who worked together to publish the book Considerations on the Medical Use and on the Production of Factitious Airs (1794). This book was important for two reasons. First, James Watt had invented a novel machine to produce "Factitious Airs" (i.e. nitrous oxide) and a novel "breathing apparatus" to inhale the gas. Second, the book also presented the new medical theories by Thomas Beddoes, that tuberculosis and other lung diseases could be treated by inhalation of "Factitious Airs" (the word factitious means "artificial"). [1]

Other Ingredient Information

Products containing Nitrous Oxide


The percentage represents the approximate total number of food products from UPC Food Search's data that contain the ingredient, "Nitrous Oxide".
The data is calculated from UPC Food Search's product data only, and is not meant to reflect all food products regionally or globally.

Source(s) Derived From

 Other Natural Sources, Chemical (Synthetic) Sources

Natural or Artificial?

 Both (Can be derived from Natural & Artificial Sources)

References
  1. Nitrous oxide - Wikipedia

Aliases (Also Known As)

None found

Revision History

Action User Date/Time
Ingredient addedUPC Food SearchNovember 29, 2010 @ 1:02 AM

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