Auto Racing: Nitros Oxide, sports car club, high school chemistry

Question
No, I have no intention of putting NOS in my car, but I have always wondered what the physics behind using a super coolant, and how and why it can generate so much extra horsepower.  I hope that this is an appropriate question for you, I have yet to meet someone who can answer this question.  Thank - You

Answer
Hi David:

We've all heard the "think outside the box" lecture recently, and this is an example.

Nitrous oxide is known as a super coolant, and as "laughing gas" administered by some oral surgeons as a mile anasthesia.

Now outside the box:  During the combustion process, there is enough energy in the combustion chamber to literally crush water molecules into their component parts, oxygen and hydrogen.  And with nitrous oxide, nitrogen and oxygen
You may recall learning that what we call "air" is really about 80% nitrogen. Anytime you can add more "air" to the breathing of an engine,you will get more power.  And remember in high school Chemistry, what happened when you put an ordinary match flame into a pure O2 environment?  Of course the flame bacame much brighter and more robust.  

So that's what happens when you introduce the right amount of NO2 into your combustion process,  it adds about 20- 25% in combustion pressures, and makes the car go faster.
It also tends to make the pistons come out the bottom.

Within the Sports Car Club of America where I do all of my racing, NO2 is not allowed, partially because it supports combustion and would be a major threat in a burning car. And partially because it's stored in a pressureized bottle that could cause a rather wicked explosion if it were struck hard enough in a crash.

Thats all I have to offer on the subject, I think I answered your question though

Good luck

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida