March 29, 2024, 01:50:46 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Why do drag racers inject nitrous oxide instead of pure oxygen?  (Read 6146 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline 7055

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 6
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
So if the idea is to get more oxygen into the cylinders so that more fuel can be burned, why don't drag racers just inject pure oxygen?

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27633
  • Mole Snacks: +1799/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: Why do drag racers inject nitrous oxide instead of pure oxygen?
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2010, 02:50:27 AM »
Oxygen is much more dangerous and difficult to handle.
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Offline 7055

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 6
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Why do drag racers inject nitrous oxide instead of pure oxygen?
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2010, 03:05:17 AM »
Oxygen is much more dangerous and difficult to handle.

What happens to the nitrogen part? Is it just along for the ride? Does it burn?

Offline Japo

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 7
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Why do drag racers inject nitrous oxide instead of pure oxygen?
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2010, 09:06:12 AM »
An extensive explanation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous

Sponsored Links