Entonox is a medical anaesthesia gas comprising a mix of 50% Oxygen (O₂) and 50% Nitrous Oxide (N₂O). This mixture is commonly known by the name “Laughing Gas” and is commonly used. When we think of laughing gas, we might picture individuals inhaling laughing gas from a balloon to experience the feelings of euphoria, in other words, feelings of happiness, excitement, joy and well-being that it can generate; however, that is not all laughing gas is used for. Laughing gas is frequently used in dental clinics, pre-hospital care, childbirth and emergency medicine situations for its benefits of short-term pain relief and reducing the anxiety of patients. The majority of people know the effects of laughing gas, but a lot of them are not aware of how it works and why it causes them to laugh. I was inspired by this magical gas that can bring happiness and laughter to people and thus wanted to portray how it makes us laugh in my art project.

When we inhale laughing gas, it enters the blood by diffusion from the alveoli, but it does not bind with the haemoglobin. It moves quickly into cells and ends in the brain. Because of the stability of the compound, N₂O is not metabolized by the body so it has its effect as a molecule, and then it is eliminated by diffusion out of the lungs once inhalation has ceased. N₂O inhibits NMDA receptors in the brain while encouraging the stimulation of the parasympathetic GABA receptors. This eventually produces an anaesthetic effect. It is also understood that N₂O promotes the release of endogenous opioid neurotransmitters (“natural painkillers” e.g. endorphins) that specifically activate descending pain pathways. Euphoria is a common side-effect of N₂O usage, hence the name laughing gas.

Since jesters are entertainers that make people laugh, I decided to represent the laughing gas as jesters, and since angels always watch over us, I decided to represent the endorphins that protect our body from feeling pain as angels. The red painting represents the blood in which the the N₂O molecules use to travel up to the brain. The yellow painting represents the brain in which the endorphins reside in. Since N₂O releases endorphins, I showed the jesters opening the door of the endorphins’ home and inviting them to come out.

My artwork reflects upon six of Atkins’s big ideas in Chemistry. Matter is made of atoms is the first big idea in chemistry that is portrayed in my artwork. This concept is portrayed in my artwork by showing the laughing gas and the endorphins on an atomic level within the body. Everything is made of atoms, and molecules are composition of atoms, which create matter. Each element is placed on a periodic table according to its properties, in other terms, its metallic character, atomic size, first ionization energy, etc. The number of valence electrons that each element has follows a periodic trend since elements of the same group have the same number of valence electrons. This is the big idea of Elements display periodicity. In the molecule, N₂O, nitrogen and oxygen are both placed on the second period of the periodic table. This big idea is tied to Chemical bonds form when electrons are paired. The goal of all unstable atoms is to lower their potential energy and become more stable. This is usually done either by sharing, giving, or taking electrons from another atom. This is shown by the formation of N₂O, which forms only when electrons are paired. Chemical bonding is therefore essential to the creation of N₂O and gives this molecule a particular shape and structure. This brings us to the fourth big idea in chemistry, which is Molecular shape is a crucial feature in chemistry. The shape of this molecule is linear, which is crucial for the molecule to be stable, since it wants to have the lowest potential energy possible. The next big idea in chemistry that my artwork reflects upon is There are residual forces between molecules. Intermolecular forces such as dipole-dipole interactions are present in N₂O. The last big idea in chemistry that is portrayed in my artwork is Energy is conserved. The fact that we already possess natural pain killers in our bodies and that endorphins are not created but are simply released by N₂O shows that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

I wanted to show people a fun side to chemistry that would be amusing to look at and easy to understand. Through this artwork, I hope that we’ll be able to see the connection between art and science and the beauty of the human body and its wonders.

Sources:

http://www.bochealthcare.co.uk/en/Products-and-services/Products-and-services-by-category/Medical-gases/ENTONOX/ENTONOX.html

http://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/2320/how-does-laughing-gas-n2o-work