NITROUS OXIDE AS AN OXIDIZING AGENT IN THE GASEOUS STATE

The kinetics of a number of gaseous oxidation reactions have been investigated, using nitrous oxide as the oxidizing agent in place of oxygen. It is found that, in general, nitrous oxide is much less efficient as an oxidizing agent than is molecular oxygen. Nitrous oxide in most cases acts merely as a reservoir of atomic oxygen at temperatures where its rate of decomposition is appreciable.