Editing Nitrous oxide (section)

===Industrial methods===
[[File:Nitrous oxide production.png|thumb|Nitrous oxide production]]
Nitrous oxide is prepared on an industrial scale by carefully heating [[ammonium nitrate]]<ref name=CatalysisToday2005 /> at about 250&nbsp;°C, which decomposes into nitrous oxide and water vapour.<ref>{{cite book|last=Holleman |first=A. F. |author2=Wiberg, E. |title=Inorganic Chemistry |publisher=Academic Press |location=San Diego |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-12-352651-9}}</ref>
:{{chem2 | NH4NO3 -> 2 H2O  + N2O }}

The addition of various [[phosphate]] salts favours formation of a purer gas at slightly lower temperatures. This reaction may be difficult to control, resulting in [[detonation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanghioverseas.com/nitrous_oxide_gas_plants/nitrous_oxide_gas_plants.htm |publisher=Sanghi Organization |title=Nitrous oxide plant |access-date=18 December 2013  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127131246/http://sanghioverseas.com/nitrous_oxide_gas_plants/nitrous_oxide_gas_plants.htm |archive-date=27 November 2013 }}</ref>