Chemical agent
Pallets of 155 mm artillery shells containing "HD" (distilled sulfur mustard agent) at Pueblo Depot Activity (PUDA) chemical weapons storage facility
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| Blister agents | |
|---|---|
| Phosgene oxime | (CX) |
| Lewisite | (L) |
| Sulfur mustard (Yperite) | (HD) |
| Nitrogen mustard | (HN) |
| Nerve agents | |
| Tabun | (GA) |
| Sarin | (GB) |
| Soman | (GD) |
| Cyclosarin | (GF) |
| VX | (VX) |
| Blood agents | |
| Cyanogen chloride | (CK) |
| Hydrogen cyanide | (AC) |
| Choking agents | |
| Chloropicrin | (PS) |
| Phosgene | (CG) |
| Diphosgene | (DP) |
| Chlorine | (CI) |
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| Soviet chemical weapons canister from an Albanian stockpile | |
A chemical weapon (CW) is a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans. According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), "the term chemical weapon may also be applied to any toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action. Munitions or other delivery devices designed to deliver chemical weapons, whether filled or unfilled, are also considered weapons themselves."
Chemical weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), though they are distinct from nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and radiological weapons. All may be used in warfare and are known by the military acronym NBC (for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare). Weapons of mass destruction are distinct from conventional weapons, which are primarily effective due to their explosive, kinetic, or incendiary potential. Chemical weapons can be widely dispersed in gas, liquid and solid forms, and may easily afflict others than the intended targets. Nerve gas, tear gas and pepper spray are three modern examples of chemical weapons.
Lethal unitary chemical agents and munitions are extremely volatile and they constitute a class of hazardous chemical weapons that have been by many nations. Unitary agents are effective on their own and do not require mixing with other agents. The most dangerous of these are nerve agents, GA, GB, GD, and VX as well as vesicant (blister) agents, which are formulations of sulfur mustard such as H, HT, and HD. They all are liquids at normal room temperature, but become gaseous when released. Widely used during the First World War, the effects of so-called mustard gas, phosgene gas and others caused lung searing, blindness, death and maiming.
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Wikipedia