Hi all,

I've read some of the posts from a few years ago regarding nitrogen
narcosis.  I've recently been doing a little research on the subject.
I'm writing to address two topics:

First, I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to share with me
any in-depth technical references you may have regarding the phisiology
and pathology of nitrogen narcosis?  Anything that details the
discussion of the biology and chemistry behind it is helpful.

Second, I'm presenting a hypothesis.  I've been contemplating the
aspect of nitrogen narcosis, and looking at the different factors that
weigh into what causes it.  It is my hypothesis that the problem is
entirely due to chemistry.

My argument:

First, Dalton's Law is important, but perhaps the importance of it in
this scenario is overstated.  Factors such as Charles Law and Boyles
Law also come into effect in an underwater environment where gas volume
and temperature both decrease while pressure increases.

Second, we must look at the fact that the average sample of air
contains both nitrogen and oxygen.  Both elements are highly
electronegative, and both are in the [He]2s:1p energy level, N having 5
valence electrons, and O having 6 valence electrons, respectively.

Third, we must look at the fact that between non-polar molecules,
London Forces (or Dispersion Forces, if you prefer) create
circumstances where non-polar molecules can experience momentary
dipoles, which allow them to react to create new covalently-bonded
molecules.

When we consider these factors in combination; pressure, temperature,
volume, valence electrons, London forces; I don't find it improbable
that the result could be as follows:

2N2 + O2 --> N2O

This compound, of course, is Nitrous Oxide, known for its narcotic and
psychedelic effects.

Looking at the Dalton diagram of such a reaction, we would have:

 2       2
2 N = O = N 2

with 2 representing electron pairs, and the equals representing shared
electron pairs.  The result is a double-bonded molecule, with all
elements containing full Quantum Energy levels.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
ellipse in Phoenix