Laughing gas | Define Laughing gas at Dictionary.com laughing gas Examples from the Web for laughing gas Expand Gina Gershon’s Trip to Heaven in the Dentist’s Chair Gina Gershon October 22, 2012 Historical Examples He experimented with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for ten months until he had thoroughly learned its intoxicating effects. Historic Inventions Rupert S. Holland On one occasion a company of young men went to Dr. Long's office and asked him to make them a supply of "laughing gas." Stories Of Georgia Joel Chandler Harris The oxide of nitrogen so formed is called nitrous oxide or laughing gas. The most familiar example of this occurs at the beginning of the inhalation of laughing gas. Psychotherapy James J. Walsh He is always as bad as you and I were for a short time, M'Nicholl, under the laughing gas! What is another word for 'laughing gas'? What is another word for 'laughing gas'? No words found. General Chemistry Online: FAQ: Introduction to inorganic chemistry: What is laughing gas? Introduction to inorganic chemistry Next Question What is laughing gas?

Laughing gas is nitrous oxide, N2O (more properly called dinitrogen oxide). It is a colorless gas with a sweet odor and taste. Inhalation leads to disorientation, euphoria, numbness, loss of motor coordination, dizziness, and ultimately a loss of consciousness. The gas is used as an anaesthetic, as a propellant in whipped cream cans, and as an oxidizing agent in racing cars. What is the structure of nitrous oxide? Linear structure of N2O. Click on the picture for a 3D Chime model. Formal charge considerations suggest that the most important resonance structures are A third structure involving a triple bond between the nitrogen and oxygen is unlikely because that would result in high formal charges. These resonance structures can be used to explain experimental bond lengths. The nitrogen-nitrogen bond is 1.126 Angstroms long which is slightly longer than the triple bond length in N2 (1.098 Angstroms). The nitrogen-oxygen bond is 1.186 Angstroms long.

This is longer than the typical N=O bond (about 1.14 Angstroms), which agrees with the prediction of partial single-bond character for the NO bond in N2O. The molecule is not strongly polar, despite the large electronegativity difference between nitrogen and oxygen. The resonance structures again can be used to explain why: the negative formal charge is concentrated on the terminal nitrogen in the structure at left,. The oxygen bears a negative formal charge in the other structure. Each structure is polar, but the dipole moments point in opposite directions. The dipole moment is expected to be small due to cancellation of the contributions from both structures. The low polarity of the gas makes it both fat and water soluble. This allows it to travel through the bloodstream and into the fatty membranes of nerve cells where it produces its characteristic effects. Nitrous oxide's fat solubility and low toxicity make it an ideal propellant for whipped cream. It dissolves easily in cream under pressure and bubbles out of solution when the pressure is released, creating a fine creamy foam. How was nitrous oxide discovered?

Joseph Priestley (the discover of oxygen, soda pop , and carbon dioxide) described the preparation of "nitrous air diminished" in his classic 1772 paper Observations on Different Kinds of Air. The gas he collected over mercury supported combustion, but did not itself burn. He described the bizarre enlarged double-cone of a candle flame in nitrous oxide with great excitement: "I have now discovered an air five or six times as good as common air... nothing I ever did has surprised me more, or is more satisfactory." But Priestley seems to have overlooked the powerful psychoactive effects of breathing nitrous oxide. Over 20 years later, Humphry Davy wrote about the intoxicating effects of nitrous oxide , comparing them to the effects of alcohol. Breathing air after inhaling high concentrations of the gas sometimes lead to hysterical laughter. It also lead to a cessation of pain and "laughing gas" became the first artifical anaesthetic. It was in common use by surgeons in the late 19th century, and is still widely used in dentistry today. Why is nitrous oxide used in rocket fuels and racing cars? Nitrous oxide supports combustion better than air does.

The N2O molecule dissociates at temperatures well below what is required for combustion, delivering an atom of oxygen and freeing molecular nitrogen: N2O(g) N2(g) + O(g) The free oxygen atom quickly reacts with the fuel. A huge gain in horsepower results, since more fuel can be burned in less time. If there is a large excess of nitrous oxide in the engine, the fuel will detonate. At the extremely high temperature produced by the explosion, oxygen atoms freed by decomposing N2O will attack the engine metal, severely damaging it. How is nitrous oxide prepared? The gas is present in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere as a result of high temperature reactions between nitrogen and oxygen. Industrially the gas is prepared by gently heating ammonium nitrate [ Archibald ]: NH4NO3(s) 2 H2O(g) + N2O(g) The preparation is dangerous because of N2O's tendency to explosively decompose into nitrogen and oxygen at high temperatures.

(The World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombings involved detonation of nitrous oxide produced by rapid high temperature decomposition.) N2O manufactured this way should NOT be inhaled, because it is contaminated with NO2 (a corrosive, irritating gas that can cause permanent lung and genetic damage!) Is breathing nitrous oxide dangerous? While anaesthetists mix nitrous oxide with oxygen, recreational users sometimes do not. Breathing gas rushing from a cylinder can quickly flush all air out of the lungs and cause suffocation. Another hazard of nitrous oxide stems from the fact that it is NOT an ideal gas. N2O molecules attract each other. The attractions require energy to break, so the expansion absorbs heat and the temperature of the gas plummets. A rapid expansion of nitrous oxide can cool it enough to cause frostbite. People doing whippets have actually frozen their lips, tongues, or vocal cords- and under the anaesthetic influence of nitrous oxide, the damage is done before any pain is felt. Nitrous oxide has also been linked to birth defects, nerve damage, and permanent organ damage. References and Links A Short History of Chemistry, J. R. Partington, Dover, New York, 1989.

Engravings showing the apparatus Priestley used to isolate nitrous oxide can be found in Partington's book, along with much interesting biographical information. The Preparation of Pure Inorganic Substances, E. H. Archibald, Wiley, New York, 1932. Preparation of nitrous oxide by thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate. Another Word For Laughing-gas A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Another word for laughing-gas Another word for laughing-gas word list. Below are a number of words whose meaning is similar to laughing-gas. exhilarating gas nitrous oxide protoxide of nitrogen Hope this list of synonyms for laughing-gas proved helpful. This post may be useful to those searching to find another word for laughing-gas, laughing-gas synonym, and synonyms for laughing-gas. Popular search terms for this page include 5 letter word for laughing gas, another name for laughing gas, other name for laughing gas, what is another name for laughing gas?, and other words for.

Laughing gas - definition of laughing gas by The Free Dictionary Laughing gas - definition of laughing gas by The Free Dictionary Nitrous oxide, especially as used as an anesthetic. laughing gas (Elements & Compounds) another name for nitrous oxide ni′trous ox′ide a colorless, sweet-smelling gas, N2O, that may induce euphoria when inhaled: used for mild anesthesia. [1790–1800] Nitrous oxide used as a mild anesthetic. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: inhalation anaesthetic , inhalation anesthetic , inhalation general anaesthetic , inhalation general anesthetic - a gas that produces general anesthesia when inhaled ammonium nitrate - used as an explosive and fertilizer and rocket propellant Translations laughing gas n gas m hilarante Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: protoxide of nitrogen References in classic literature ?

Meanwhile Toby, putting a hand on each knee, bent down his nose to the basket, and took a long inspiration at the lid; the grin upon his withered face expanding in the process, as if he were inhaling laughing gas. View in context Laughing gas can be dangerous, lead to loss of blood pressure, fainting and even heart attack. 'Anyone who takes laughing gas is playing Russian Roulette with their life... people should shun this substance and effectively put companies selling it out of business' Nitrous oxide is often referred to as laughing gas but is also known as the controversial legal drug 'hippy crack' Acting Inspector Mick Quinn said: "The gas has a similar effect to helium and is often referred to as a laughing gas. Laughing Gas | Prevention Hub Laughing Gas Substance Laughing gas is a colourless, odourless, slightly sweet tasting gas that is usually kept in gas bottles of various sizes. Laughing gas is a solvent and the active agent in it is dinitrogen monoxide (N2O), another name for laughing gas is Nitrous Oxide. Laughing gas is available several forms, one being the medical form which is produced to be used as an anaesthetic and is therefore subject to pharmaceuticals law.

A second, less pure form of laughing gas is for commercial use and is commonly used to tune engines. This less pure form may often contain other chemicals or gases such as methyl nitrate which can lead to oxygen deficiency in the human body. Laughing gas can also be purchased in cartridges that can be used to make whipped cream. Effects For recreational use, laughing gas is normally inhaled from a balloon which has been filled from a canister. Once inhaled the effects of the drug are felt within five to ten seconds and, depending how much has been inhaled, can last for anywhere between thirty seconds and four minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes after inhalation the high subsides, around an hour later laughing gas will have been completely eliminated from the body, long term effects remain. Short-term side effects The main risks of inhaling laughing gas are caused by the lack of oxygen being inhaled at the same time. This can lead to asphyxiation or loss of consciousness and subsequent brain and organ damage as a result of oxygen deficiency. Other associated side effects are exhaustion, dizziness and headaches and numbness and twitching of limbs.

Long-term side effects When used regularly in medium to high doses, laughing gas can lead to nerve damage as it reduces the effectiveness of Vitamin B12 which normally helps protect the nerves. This damage may lead to motor disorders which cause tingling and numbness in the limbs. The use of laughing gas can cause long term damage to the brain cells if oxygen deficiency occurs too often while using it. Picture by Turkeyphant . Kindly licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License , Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. Main menu Laughing Gas - Nitrous Oxide - Relative Analgesia - Inhalation Sedation Inhalation Sedation Inhalation Sedation (Laughing Gas) Inhalation sedation, laughing gas, relative analgesia, RA, happy gas, gas and air, nitrous, nitrous oxide, N2O-O2… this one has more names than any other sedation technique! And deservedly so.

Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide (N2O) and oxygen (O2) has been described as “representing the most nearly ‘ideal’ clinical sedative circumstance”… What is it? And what does it do? Nitrous oxide (N2O) is simply a gas which you can breathe in. It has no color, smell, and doesn’t irritate. It was discovered in 1772. Humphrey Davy (1778-1829), one of the pioneers of N2O experimentation, described the effects of N2O on himself following self-administration for a toothache and gum infection as follows: “On the day when the inflammation was the most troublesome, I breathed three large doses of nitrous oxide. The pain always diminished after the first four or five inspirations; the thrilling came on as usual, and uneasiness was for a few minutes swallowed up in pleasure.” Sounds like fun!! The extract above pretty much summarizes the effects of nitrous oxide: it kills pain – and it induces a pleasurable feeling. After 5 minutes or so of breathing in the gas, you should feel a euphoric feeling spread throughout your body.

It really kind of feels like a ‘happy drunk’ feeling. Some people find that there are auditory or visual effects as well. You will feel a bit light headed and often people get ‘the giggles’ (hence the name laughing gas!). As an interesting aside, nitrous oxide was one of the drugs of choice for young people in the late 1700s and early 1800s, when laughing gas demonstrations were a popular source of entertainment and enjoyment. First-hand accounts of Relative Analgesia “I started feeling warm all over. The elevator-type music they had on was starting to all sound the same and I could have sworn that they were looping the same song over and over and over. I remember somewhat the dentist coming in and telling me that this is going to be a “Three Martini Cleaning” and asked me if I preferred Strawberry Daiquiri or Pina Colada. The taste of Pina Colada filled my gums and then I saw the needle with the local anesthesia for a second, but he must have decided not to use it because I seriously didn’t feel anything.

I was already under a nice level buzz from the N20 and I could feel myself relaxing into the chair — the drugs were finally kicking in. The Pina Colada taste in my mouth made me start thinking of previous Caribbean vacations…” “I’m still smelling cherry flavor :-).You start with O2 of course and a few minutes later he asked how i was doing and basically nothing happened so he had to increase it a couple of times and finally I started to relax a bit. No real loopiness but just a sense of yeah I can get thru this. The biggest sensation was my legs felt kinda heavy as if to say maybe I want to stay here a while. Thinking like that I knew the gas was definitely working!! I WANTED TO STAY AT THE DENTIST!!!! Can you believe this.” How does nitrous oxide work? Today, we know that nitrous oxide (N2O) on its own can only safely be used for short periods of time (because the lack of oxygen in pure N2O can lead to unconsciousness and even death) – but that it’s safe to use for longer periods of time if you mix it with oxygen (O2).

Hence, the “laughing gas” used now is called N2O-O2, and contains at least 30% oxygen (that’s all the machines used nowadays will permit). Usually, the mix is about 70% oxygen to 30% nitrous oxide. In medicine, sometimes a mix of 50% oxygen to 50% nitrous oxide is used. This is known as entonox or, more commonly, “gas and air”. Depending on the concentration and length of administration of laughing gas, four levels of sedation can be experienced (after an initial feeling of light-headedness): a tingling sensation, especially in the arms and legs, or a feeling of vibration (“parasthesia”), quickly followed by warm sensations, and a feeling of well-being, euphoria and/or floating. During heavier sedation, hearing may dissolve into a constant, electronic-like throbbing. At a deeper level of sedation again, sleepiness, difficulty to keep one’s eyes open or speak (“dream”) can occur. Should nausea set in, it means you’re definitely oversedated! If you experience any unpleasant symptoms, let your dentist know so that they can adjust the percentage of N2O.

Alternatively, just take the mask off. During relative analgesia, you should stay within the first three stages. The “dream” stage means that the N2O concentration is too high, or that the gas has been administered for too long. This stage can be associated with side effects such as nausea and other potentially unpleasant sensations, including flashbacks. N2O concentration should always be gradually increased (“titrated”) at each visit, because people’s tolerance can vary from day to day. If you’ve had bad experiences with laughing gas in the past, it is highly likely that these were due to improper administration and too high a concentration of N2O. Interestingly, the actual mechanism of action of N2O is still unknown (it appears that there are quite a few different mechanisms at work)! However, it’s been observed that N2O depresses almost all forms of sensation – especially hearing, touch and pain, and that it seems to disinhibit some emotional centers in the brain. The ability to concentrate or perform intelligent acts is only minimally affected, as is memory. How is nitrous oxide administered? The equipment used for delivering “happy gas” is quite simple.

It consists of a supply of compressed gases and an apparatus which delivers the gases to the client. By turning some knobs and flipping on/off switches, the administrator can produce the desired mix of N2O-O2 in the desired quantities. Flowmeters and pressure gauges allow the administrator to keep an eye on the flow of gases. The desired N2O-O2 mix is fed through a tube to which a nasal hood or cannula is attached. This hood is put over your nose. All you have to do now is breathe normally through your nose – bingo! In modern machines there is a sort of double mask (see photo) where the outside mask is connected to a vacuum machine to suck away the waste gas – you wouldn’t want your dentist to get a face full of N2O… The white inside mask, which is placed over your nose, comes in lots of yummy scents – such as vanilla, strawberry, and mint! The one pictured to the left is scented with vanilla (that’s the one I’d go for), but Gordon likes the minty one best… The twin tubes running to the mask are for “gas in” and “gas out”.

The “gas out” line is attached to the vacuum machine, while the “gas in” line is attached to the RA (short for relative analgesia) machine. The inner mask is attached to the “line in”, you breathe out through a one-way valve in the inner mask, and the exhaust gas is collected inside the outer grey mask (pictured to your right) and sucked into the vacuum machine. What are the advantages of nitrous oxide? Nitrous oxide works very rapidly – it reaches the brain within 20 seconds, and relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes. The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment, allowing the person who administers the gas to increase or decrease the depth of sedation. Other sedation techniques don’t allow for this. For example, with IV sedation, it’s easy to deepen the level of sedation, but difficult to lessen it. Whereas with laughing gas, the effects are almost instant. Other sedation techniques have a fixed duration of action (because the effects of pills or intravenous drugs last for a specific time span), whereas gas can be given for the exact time span it’s needed for.

It can also be switched off when not needed and then switched on again (though to avoid a roller-coaster effect, you shouldn’t do this too abruptly). There’s no “hangover” effect – the gas is eliminated from the body within 3 to 5 minutes after the gas supply is stopped. You can safely drive home and don’t need an escort. With nitrous oxide, it’s easy to give incremental doses until the desired action is obtained (this is called “titration”). So the administrator has virtually absolute control over the action of the drug, preventing the possibility of accidental overdoses. While giving incremental doses is possible with IV sedation, it’s not possible with oral sedation (as a result, oral sedation can be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair). For certain procedures – those involving gums rather than teeth (e. g. deep cleaning) – it may be possible to use nitrous instead of local anaesthesia. N2O acts as a painkiller on soft tissues such as gums. However, its pain-relieving effects vary a lot from person to person and can’t be relied upon. No injection is required.

In cases of very severe needle phobia, getting laughing gas first can help you feel relaxed enough to allow the needle required for IV sedation to be inserted in your arm or hand. The very deep state of sedation achievable through IV sedation will then allow you to accept local anaesthetic. Inhalation sedation is very safe. It has very few side effects and the drugs used have no ill effects on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. Inhalation sedation has been found to be very effective in eliminating or at least minimizing severe gagging. Are there any disadvantages? Some people are not comfortable with the effects of laughing gas (either because they’re afraid they might lose control or because it makes them feel nauseous – this is quite rare, though, and usually due to oversedation). If you’re prone to nausea, it’s a good idea to have a meal (not a huge one) about 4 hours before your appointment. If that’s not possible (e. g. an early morning appointment), make sure your stomach isn’t completely empty – but don’t stuff yourself straight beforehand either.

According to Gordon, who’s a bit of an expert in the field, the normal working concentration of gases is about 70% oxygen to 30% nitrous oxide: “It’s rare to go beyond that because that’s what brings on the nausea, more than 45% N2O and you’re going to have the patient puke on you :grin:”. Some people will not achieve adequate sedation with permissible levels of oxygen. If you can’t breathe through your nose (either because you’re a pure mouth breather, or because your nose is blocked), or you feel too claustrophobic when something is put over your nose, it can’t be used. Depending on where you live, a dentist who offers nitrous oxide may be hard to come by. Apart from that, most of the disadvantages of inhalation sedation don’t affect you, but the dental team: there’s training required, the equipment is quite bulky and takes up a lot of space, and there is a possibility that dental staff who are chronically exposed to nitrous oxide might develop health problems.

The cost of the equipment and gases is high, so you’ll have to contribute to the cost – but it’s quite a bit cheaper than IV sedation. What about bad experiences with laughing gas? On rare occasions, people have reported a bad experience with nitrous oxide. Usually this is due to oversedation – getting too much N2O in the mix. This is easily reversible by reducing the amount of N2O. For example, a few people have reported auditory and “physical” hallucinations, dizziness, or vertigo. Don’t panic if you should experience this. While these symptoms are usually due to the N2O concentration being too high for you, the machines used nowadays have built-in safety features preventing an accidental overdose. Nonetheless, these sensations can be unpleasant – let your dentist know asap about any unpleasant sensations or symptoms so that they can adjust the percentage of N2O. Laughing, becoming giddy, crying, or uncoordinated movements are other signs that the NO2 concentration is too high, but these will easily be spotted by your dentist. Alternatively, just rip the mask off your nose!

Don’t confuse “dizziness” with the normal feeling of lightheadedness which many people who’ve never had N2O before experience after maybe 60 or 90 seconds. The feeling of lightheadedness will pass as the concentration of N2O is increased. Some experts in this field (e. g. Stanley Malamed) argue that nitrous oxide should always be “titrated”. This means gradually increasing the percentage of nitrous oxide in the N2O – O2 mix until a comfortable level is reached. The reason why titration should ideally be used every single time is because of potential adverse effects in the event of oversedation (including flashbacks of traumatic past events, as well as physical ill-effects). However, other experts (e.g. Fred Quarnstrom) say that it’s ok to use a mix based on prior experience (a concentration which a particular patient has experienced as pleasant during previous appointments). Quite a lot of dentists do this because it’s quicker. The problem with this approach is that tolerance can vary from visit to visit, depending on both psychological and physiological factors. What is experienced as pleasant varies from person to person and from day to day.

And once a person has been oversedated, they may come to dislike nitrous oxide so much that they don’t want to try it again. Are there any contraindications? There aren’t any major contraindications to relative analgesia, except for M.S., emphysema and some exotic chest problems. It hasn’t been proven to be safe during the first trimester of pregnancy, so you can’t use it then. Because you have to breathe it in through your nose, it’s not suitable for people who have a cold or some other condition which prevents them from breathing through their nose. You can’t be allergic to N2O. It’s also safe to use if you suffer from epilepsy, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, or cerebrovascular disease. It is also used quite successfully in many people with respiratory disease – but it depends on the exact nature of the disease, so check with your dentist! How do I know if it’s for me? Why not ask if you can have a 5 minute ‘sample’ so that you know what to expect on the day of your procedure? Many thanks to Gordon Laurie BDS for his advice and help while writing this page – and for the photos.

Definition of Laughing gas Definition of Laughing gas Weight Gain Shockers Slideshow Pictures Laughing gas: Nitrous oxide , a gas that can cause general anesthesia . Nitrous oxide is sometimes given in the company of other anesthetic agents but it is never used today as the only anesthetic agent because the concentration of nitrous oxide needed to produce anesthesia is close to the concentration that seriously lowers the blood oxygen level and creates a hazardous state of hypoxia . Nitrous oxide figured in the history of anesthesiology . In 1840 a dentist named Horace Wells had the idea that, with the recently discovered "exhilarating or laughing gas", teeth might be extracted without pain. Under its influence he had one of his own teeth pulled in 1844 and afterwards frequently used nitrous oxide in his practice. At the Massachusetts General Hospital, Wells gave a demonstration with a patient. Things did not go too well. The patient suffered great pain. Wells became depressed, addicted (to chloroform , another anesthetic agent) and in 1848 committed suicide.

Last Editorial Review: 5/13/2016 Nitrous Oxide Nitrous Oxide - Ewan Cameron and Paul May School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Chime version Jmol version VRML version "I am sure the air in heaven must be this wonder working gas of delight". So wrote poet Robert Southey of nitrous oxide, N2O, also known as nitrogen oxide, dinitrogen monoxide, hyponitrous acid anhydride and facticious air. However, its most well known name is 'laughing gas' due to its intoxicating effects when inhaled. Laughing Gas Nitrous oxide, N2O, is a colorless, almost odorless gas, that was first discovered in 1772 by the English scientist and clergyman Joseph Priestley (who was also famous for being the first to isolate other important gases such as oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide). Priestley made N2O by heating ammonium nitrate in the presence of iron filings, and then passing the gas that came off (NO) through water to remove toxic by-products.

The reaction he observed was: 2NO + H2O + Fe N2O + Fe(OH)2 After initial trials, Priestley thought that N2O could be used as a preserving agent, but this proved unsuccessful. Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) ...and its discoverer, Joseph Priestley Following Priestley's discovery, Humphry Davy of the Pneumatic Institute in Bristol, England, experimented with the physiological properties of the gas, such as its effects upon respiration. He even administered the gas to visitors to the institute, and after watching the amusing effects on people who inhaled it, coined the term 'laughing gas'! Davy even noted the anaesthetic effects of the gas: "As nitrous oxide in its extensive operation appears capable of destroying physical pain, it may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations in which no great effusion of blood takes place". However, despite this observation, for the next 40 years or so the primary use of N2O was for recreational enjoyment and public shows. So called nitrous oxide capers took place in travelling medicine shows and carnivals, where the public would pay a small price to inhale a minute's worth of the gas.

People would laugh and act silly until the effect of the drug came to its abrupt end, when they would stand about in confusion. Many famous people (of their time) and dignitaries from Clifton and Bristol came to inhale Davy's purified nitrous oxide for recreational purposes. Nitrous Oxide as an Anaesthetic Nitrous oxide found a more scientific use as an anesthetic in clinical dentistry and medicine in the early 1840s. The story goes that at that time, a medical school dropout called Gardner Quincy Colton went around the country putting on nitrous oxide exhibitions. In 1844 he happened to put on a demonstration in Hartford, Connecticut, and in the audience that day was a local dentist named Horace Wells. Dr. Wells watched with interest as one of the volunteers, a man named Samuel Cooley, inhaled the gas, and, while still under the effects of the N2O, injured his leg when he staggered into some nearby benches. When he went back to his seat next to Dr. Wells, Cooley appeared to be unaware of the injury until the effects of the gas wore off. Dr.

Wells immediately realised that N2O might possess painkilling qualities, and so after the demonstration, Wells approached Colton and invited him to participate in an experiment the next day. Colton agreed, administered nitrous oxide to Dr. Wells while another local dentist extracted one of Wells' molars. Dr. Wells experienced no pain during the procedure, and the birth of N2O as a dental and medical painkiller had arrived. Early surgical operations, such as this one from 1850, used ether as an anesthetic. This was dangerous, because ether is highly explosive. So a new anesthetic was needed that was not so dangerous to use. The story does not end happily, however. In January 1845, Dr. Wells demonstrated his discovery of the effects of nitrous oxide at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. A patient was anesthetised and a tooth was extracted, but during the demonstration the patient complained that he felt some discomfort. Even though the experiment had been successful (in that the patient had only felt slight discomfort and not excruciating pain), the suspicious audience were unhappy, and booed Wells from the stage. This public humiliation eventually led to Dr.

Wells losing his reputation as a profession dentist, and finally to his suicide three years later. Ironically, 150 years after his premature death, his discovery would be adopted by dental practices worldwide, and Wells would be given the accolade - the "Discoverer of Anesthesia". Nitrous oxide is a very safe and popular agent still utilized by dentists today. It is much less toxic than alternatives, such as chloroform, with far less risk of explosion than ether. The main use for N2O is usually as a mild sedative and analgesic. It helps to allay anxiety that many patients may have toward dental treatment, and it offers some degree of painkilling ability. A Boost for Fast Cars At room temperature, N2O is quite unreactive with most substances, including alkali metals, halogens, and even ozone. It is therefore widely used as a propellant in aerosol cans in place of the CFCs which can damage the ozone layer. When heated sufficiently, however, N2O decomposes exothermically to N2 and O2.

If this reaction occurs in the combustion chamber of an automobile, 3 moles of gas would be produced from 2 moles, providing an extra boost to the piston, as well as liberating more heat. It also has a number of other benefits. The increased oxygen provides more efficient combustion of fuel, the nitrogen buffers the increased cylinder pressure controlling the combustion, and the latent heat of vaporisation of the N2O reduces the intake temperature. Therefore N2O is occasionally injected into the fuel lines of racing cars to give more power to the engine and to give the car exceptional acceleration. Some details on how this works can be found here . Laughing | Define Laughing at Dictionary.com laughing [laf-ing, lah-fing] /ˈlæf ɪŋ, ˈlɑ fɪŋ/ Spell that laughs or is given to laughter : a laughing child. uttering sounds like human laughter , as some birds. 3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color, sound, etc.: a laughing stream; laughing flowers. 4. The increase in crime is no laughing matter.

noun 1250-1300; Middle English; see laugh , -ing 1, -ing 2 Related forms verb (used without object) 1. to express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements. 2. to experience the emotion so expressed: He laughed inwardly at the scene. 3. to produce a sound resembling human laughter : A coyote laughed in the dark. verb (used with object) 4. to drive, put, bring, etc., by or with laughter (often followed by out, away, down, etc.): They laughed him out of town. We laughed away our troubles. 5. the act or sound of laughing; laughter. 7. an expression of mirth, derision, etc., by laughing. 8. Informal. something that provokes laughter, amusement, or ridicule: After all the advance publicity, the prizefight turned out to be a laugh. 9. to make fun of; deride; ridicule: They were laughing at him, not along with him.

to be scornful of; reject: They stopped laughing at the unusual theory when it was found to be predictive. to find sympathetic amusement in; regard with humor: We can learn to laugh a little at even our most serious foibles. 11. laugh off, to dismiss as ridiculous, trivial, or hollow: He had received threats but laughed them off as the work of a crank. Idioms have the last laugh, to prove ultimately successful after a seeming defeat or loss: She smiled slyly, because she knew she would yet have the last laugh on them. 13. laugh it up, to laugh or joke in a hearty way: He was laughing it up with his friends. 14. laugh out of court, to dismiss or depreciate by means of ridicule; totally scorn: His violent protests were laughed out of court by the others. 15. laugh out of the other side of one's mouth, to undergo a chastening reversal, as of glee or satisfaction that is premature; be ultimately chagrined, punished, etc.; cry: She's proud of her promotion, but she'll laugh out of the other side of her mouth when the work piles up.

Also, laugh on the wrong side of one's mouth/face. 16. laugh up one's sleeve. sleeve (def 7). Origin Expand before 900; Middle English laughen, Old English hlæh(h)an (Anglian); cognate with Dutch, German lachen, Old Norse hlǣja, Gothic hlahjan Related forms outlaugh, verb (used with object) Synonyms See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com 1. chortle, cackle, cachinnate, guffaw, roar; giggle, snicker, snigger, titter. 6. Laugh, chuckle, grin, smile refer to methods of expressing mirth, appreciation of humor, etc. A laugh may be a sudden, voiceless exhalation, but is usually an audible sound, either soft or loud: a hearty laugh. Chuckle suggests a barely audible series of sounds expressing private amusement or satisfaction: a delighted chuckle. A smile is a (usually pleasant) lighting up of the face and an upward curving of the corners of the lips (which may or may not be open); it may express amusement or mere recognition, friendliness, etc.: a courteous smile.

A grin, in which the teeth are usually visible, is like an exaggerated smile, less controlled in expressing the feelings: a friendly grin. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for laughing Expand Django Unchained: Selling Slaves as Action Figures Karu F. Daniels January 5, 2013 It paid tribute to the greats that came before it, all while laughing at itself and chronicling a legendary friendship. Still Jim Honor Willsie Morrow "I've got one down the laughing Brook where the bank is steep," said he. British Dictionary definitions for laughing Expand verb 1. (intransitive) to express or manifest emotion, esp mirth or amusement, typically by expelling air from the lungs in short bursts to produce an inarticulate voiced noise, with the mouth open 2. (intransitive) (esp of certain mammals or birds) to make a noise resembling a laugh 3. (transitive) to utter or express with laughter: he laughed his derision at the play 4. (transitive) to bring or force (someone, esp oneself) into a certain condition by laughter: he laughed himself sick 5. (intransitive) foll by at.

to make fun (of); jeer (at) 6. (intransitive) foll by over. to read or discuss something with laughter 7. (informal) don't make me laugh, I don't believe you for a moment 8. (informal) laugh all the way to the bank, to be unashamedly pleased at making a lot of money 9. laugh in a person's face, to show open contempt or defiance towards a person 10. (informal) laugh like a drain, to laugh loudly and coarsely 11. laugh up one's sleeve, to laugh or have grounds for amusement, self-satisfaction, etc, secretly 12. laugh on the other side of one's face, to show sudden disappointment or shame after appearing cheerful or confident 13. (informal) be laughing, to be in a favourable situation noun the act or an instance of laughing 15. (informal) a person or thing that causes laughter: that holiday was a laugh 17.

Old English læhan, hliehhen; related to Gothic hlahjan, Dutch lachen Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for laughing Expand n. mid-14c., verbal noun from laugh (v.). Laughing matter (usually with negative) is from 1560s. Nitrous oxide has been called laughing gas since 1842 (for its exhilarating effects). Davy, experimenting with the gas, discovered these as far back as 1779: "When I took the bag from my mouth, I immediately laughed. The laughter was involuntary, but highly pleasurable, accompanied by a thrill all through me." laugh v.

late 14c., from Old English (Anglian) hlæhhan, earlier hlihhan, from Proto-Germanic *klakhjanan (cf. Old Norse hlæja, Danish le, Old Frisian hlakkia, Old Saxon hlahhian, Middle Dutch and Dutch lachen, Old High German hlahhan, German lachen, Gothic hlahjan), from PIE *kleg-, of imitative origin (cf. Latin cachinnare "to laugh aloud," Sanskrit kakhati "laughs," Old Church Slavonic chochotati "laugh," Lithuanian klageti "to cackle," Greek kakhazein). Originally with a "hard" -gh- sound, as in Scottish loch; the spelling remained after the pronunciation shifted to "-f." If I coveted nowe to avenge the injuries that you have done me, I myght laughe in my slyve. [John Daus, "Sleidanes Commentaries," 1560] Related: Laughed; laughing . n. 1680s, from laugh (v.).

Meaning "a cause of laughter" is from 1895; ironic use (e.g. that's a laugh) attested from 1930. Laugh track "canned laughter on a TV program" is from 1961. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Slang definitions & phrases for laughing Expand

Question: What is another name for "laughing gas"?
Answer: Nitrous oxide