Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a chemical compound used as an oxidizing agent to increase an internal combustion engine's power output

by allowing more fuel to be burned than would normally be the case.

Nitrous oxide is stored as a liquid in tanks, but because of its low boiling point it vaporizes easily when released to atmosphere. When injected into an inlet manifold, this characteristic causes a reduction in air/fuel charge temperature with an associated increase in density, thereby increasing the cylinder's volumetric efficiency.