Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous, or nos, it is a chemical compound with two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom with the formula N2O.
At room temperature, it is a colorless, non-flammable gas with a slightly sweet scent and taste. At elevated temperatures, nitrous oxide is a powerful oxidizer, like molecular oxygen.
Nitrous oxide can be stored either as a cryogenic liquid or as liquid nitrous oxide in compressed gas cylinders.