Nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas or dinitrogen monoxide) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula N²O. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a pleasant, slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects. It is commonly known as “laughing gas” due to the euphoric effects of inhaling it; a property that has led to its recreational use as an inhalant drug.