We love chemical reaction videos. We also love high speed videography. Now, Destin from Smarter Every Day and The Prof from Periodic Table of Videos have teamed up to record some of the most visually arresting chemical reactions on Earth at thousands of frames per second.

Nitrous oxide started as anesthesia, but found a nice second career as a drug for anyone who could find a can of spray-on whipped cream. Why does it hit people so suddenly? Why does it stop so quickly? The answer may be found in biochemistry and physics that are unique to this particular gas.

People have always used laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, recreationally. Whether they're casual whippet users or have access to a steady supply of the medical-grade stuff, people have enjoyed the drug since its discovery over 200 years ago. In fact, there was a time when doctors would have been horrified at the idea of…

Nitrous oxide is best known as the mild anesthetic laughing gas, but making people feel a bit loopy during dental surgery is the least of its effects. The gas can warm our planet 300 times faster than carbon dioxide.

It's fun to watch chemistry labs explode on video, but you know what's even more fun? Watching a chemistry experiment in action, with a good explanation of what's going on. That's science at its most awesome. Here are ten of our favorite chemical reactions caught on video — which also include excellent commentary on…