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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Citizen Chemist => Topic started by: engineeringguy on September 21, 2016, 08:48:31 PM

Title: How can I obtain the Nitrous Oxide for Barking Dog
Post by: engineeringguy on September 21, 2016, 08:48:31 PM

Hello, I am president of the chemistry club at my school and I wanted to do the barking dog reaction. I need nitrous oxide and a way I can dispense it into a tube. Where would you buy such a chemical? Preferably from the cheapest possible source.

Title: Re: How can I obtain the Nitrous Oxide for Barking Dog
Post by: Dan on September 22, 2016, 02:02:38 AM

Something like this perhaps: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipped-cream_charger

Title: Re: How can I obtain the Nitrous Oxide for Barking Dog
Post by: jasongnome on September 22, 2016, 04:45:48 AM

You could try making it yourself. The main method is to GENTLY heat small amounts of ammonium nitrate and collect the gas over water.

NH₃NO₂  :rarrow: 2H₂O + N₂O

There's a diagram here (the water does need to be hot, but you don't need metal to hold the hose in place, your school lab should have ceramic "beehives", one of those is fine):

http://chemistry.about.com/od/makechemicalsyourself/ss/How-To-Make-Nitrous-Oxide-Or-Laughing-Gas.htm

SAFETY: with gentle heating the above reaction happens, however, if it gets too hot, it can decompose explosively. This method is commonly done in schools and was invented by Joseph Priestley, so it been around for a LONG time. It's safe as long as you take normal precautions, you should fill out a safety assessment first, and check with a qualified teacher before you do it.