View source for Chemistry:List of chemical warfare agents

{{Chemical agents sidebar}}

A ''chemical weapon agent (CWA)'' is a  [[Chemistry:Chemical substance|chemical substance]] whose [[Biology:Toxin|toxic]] [[Chemistry:Chemical property|properties]] are used to kill, injure or incapacitate human beings. About 70 different chemicals have been used or stockpiled as chemical weapon agents during the 20th century. These agents may be in liquid, gas or solid form.

In general, chemical weapon agents are organized into several categories according to the physiological manner in which they affect the human body. Division may also be by tactical purpose or chemical structure.  The names and number of categories varies slightly from source to source, but in general, types of chemical warfare agents are as follows:

==Harassing agents==
These are substances that are not intended to kill or injure.  They are often referred to as Riot Control Agents (RCAs) and may be used by civilian police forces against criminals and rioters, or in the military for training purposes.  These agents also have tactical utility to force combatants out of concealed or covered positions for conventional engagement, and preventing combatants from occupying contaminated terrain or operating weapons.  In general, harassing agents are sensory irritants that have fleeting concentration dependent effects that resolve within minutes after removal.  Casualty effects are not anticipated to exceed 24-hours nor require medical attention.

===Tear agents===
These sensory irritants produce immediate pain to the eyes and irritate mucous membranes (aka ''lachrymatory agent'' or ''lachrymator'').
* [[Chemistry:Benzyl chloride|Benzyl chloride]]
* [[Chemistry:Benzyl bromide|Benzyl bromide]]
* [[Chemistry:Bromoacetone|Bromoacetone]] (BA)
* Bromobenzylcyanide (CA)
* Bromomethyl ethyl ketone
* Capsaicin (OC)
* Chloracetophenone (MACE; CN)
* [[Chemistry:Chloromethyl chloroformate|Chloromethyl chloroformate]]
* [[Chemistry:CR gas|Dibenzoxazepine]] (CR)
* [[Chemistry:Ethyl iodoacetate|Ethyl iodoacetate]]
* [[Chemistry:CS gas|Ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile]] (Super tear gas; CS)
* Trichloromethyl chloroformate
* [[Chemistry:Xylyl bromide|Xylyl bromide]]

===Vomiting agents===
These sensory irritants are also termed sternators or nose irritants.  They irritate the mucous membranes to produce congestion, coughing, sneezing, and eventually nausea.
* [[Chemistry:Adamsite|Adamsite]] (DM)
* Diphenylchloroarsine (DA)
* [[Chemistry:Diphenylcyanoarsine|Diphenylcyanoarsine]] (DC)

===Malodorants===
{{main|Chemistry:Malodorant}}
These are compounds with a very strong and unpleasant smell, which produce powerfully aversive effects without the toxic effects of tear agents or vomiting agents.

==Incapacitating agents==
These are substances that produce debilitating effects with limited probability of permanent injury or loss of life.  The casualty effects typically last over 24 hours, and though medical evacuation and isolation is recommended, it is not required for complete recovery.  These, together with harassing agents, are sometimes called nonlethal agents.  There may be as high as 5% fatalities with the use of these agents.

===Psychological agents===
These are substances that produce casualty effects through mental disturbances such as delirium or hallucination.
* [[Chemistry:3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate|3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate]] (BZ)
* [[Chemistry:Phencyclidine|Phencyclidine]] (SN)
* [[Chemistry:Lysergic acid diethylamide|Lysergic acid diethylamide]] (LSD)

===Other incapacitating agents===
These substances have also been investigated as incapacitants, though they operate more through interactions outside the central nervous system.
*KOLOKOL-1 (tranquilizer)

==Lethal agents==
These substances are for producing chemical casualties without regard to long-term consequences or loss of life.  They cause injuries that require medical treatment.

=== Blister agents ===
A ''blister agent'' is a chemical compound that irritates and causes injury to the skin.  These substances also attack the eyes, or any other tissue they contact.

====Vesicants====
The vesicants are substances that produce large fluid-filled blisters on the skin.

=====Nitrogen mustards=====
{{main|Chemistry:Nitrogen mustard}}
* Bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine (HN1)
* Bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2)
* Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN3)

=====Sulfur mustards=====
{{main|Chemistry:Mustard gas}}
* 1,2-Bis(2-chloroethylthio) ethane (Sesquimustard; Q)
* 1,3-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-propane
* 1,4-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-butane
* 1,5-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-pentane
* 2-Chloroethylchloromethylsulfide
* Bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (Mustard gas; HD)
* Bis(2-chloroethylthio) methane
* Bis(2-chloroethylthiomethyl) ether
* Bis(2-chloroethylthioethyl) ether (O Mustard; T)

=====Arsenicals=====
* [[Chemistry:Ethyldichloroarsine|Ethyldichloroarsine]] (ED)
* [[Chemistry:Methyldichloroarsine|Methyldichloroarsine]] (MD)
* [[Chemistry:Phenyldichloroarsine|Phenyldichloroarsine]] (PD)
* 2-Chlorovinyldichloroarsine ([[Chemistry:Lewisite|Lewisite]]; L)

====Urticants====
The urticants are substances that produce a painful weal on the skin.  These are sometimes termed skin necrotizers and are known as the most painful substances produced.
*[[Chemistry:Phosgene oxime|Phosgene oxime]] (CX)

=== Blood agents ===
These substances are metabolic poisons that interfere with the life-sustaining processes of the blood.
* [[Chemistry:Cyanogen chloride|Cyanogen chloride]] (CK)
* [[Chemistry:Hydrogen cyanide|Hydrogen cyanide]] (AC)
* [[Chemistry:Arsine|Arsine]] (SA)

===Choking agents===
{{main|Chemistry:Pulmonary agent}}
These substances are sometime referred to as ''pulmonary agent'' or ''lung irritants'' and cause injury to the lung-blood barrier resulting in Asphyxia. 
* [[Chemistry:Chlorine|Chlorine]] (CL)
* [[Chemistry:Chloropicrin|Chloropicrin]] (PS)
* [[Chemistry:Diphosgene|Diphosgene]] (DP)
* [[Chemistry:Phosgene|Phosgene]] (CG)

=== Nerve agents ===
{{main|Biology:Nerve agent}}
Nerve agents are substances that disrupt the chemical communications through the nervous system.  One mechanism of disruption, utilized by the G, GV, and V series of chemicals is caused by blocking the [[Biology:Acetylcholinesterase|acetylcholinesterase]], an [[Biology:Enzyme|enzyme]] that normally destroys and stops the activity of [[Chemistry:Acetylcholine|acetylcholine]], a [[Biology:Neurotransmitter|neurotransmitter]]. Poisoning by these nerve agents leads to an accumulation of acetylcholine at the [[Biology:Neuron|nerve]] [[Biology:Axon|axon]], producing a perpetual excited state in the nerve (e.g. constant muscle contraction). The eventual exhaustion of muscles leads to respiratory failure and death. A separate class of nerve agents are related to Tetrodotoxin, frequently abbreviated as TTX, is a potent neurotoxin with no known antidote. Tetrodotoxin blocks action potentials in nerves by binding to the voltage-gated, fast sodium channels in nerve cell membranes, essentially preventing any affected nerve cells from firing by blocking the channels used in the process.

====G series====
These are high volatility nerve agents that are typically used for a nonpersistent to semipersistent effect.
* [[Chemistry:Tabun (nerve agent)|Tabun]] (GA)
* [[Chemistry:Sarin|Sarin]] (GB)
* [[Chemistry:Soman|Soman]] (GD)
* [[Chemistry:Cyclosarin|Cyclosarin]] (GF)

====GV series====
These agents have a volatility between the V and G agents and are typically used for a semi-persistent to persistent effect. 
* [[Biology:Novichok agent|Novichok agent]]s
*[[Chemistry:GV (nerve agent)|GV (nerve agent)]]

====V series====
These agents have low volatility and are typically used for a persistent effect or liquid contact hazard.
* [[Chemistry:VE (nerve agent)|VE]]
* [[Chemistry:VG (nerve agent)|VG]]
* [[Chemistry:VM (nerve agent)|VM]]
* [[Chemistry:VX (nerve agent)|VX]]

====T series====
These agents are related to the puffer fish 
* [[Chemistry:Tetrodotoxin|Tetrodotoxin]]
* [[Chemistry:Saxitoxin|Saxitoxin]] (TZ)

====Other====
* [[Chemistry:Botulinum toxin|Botulinum toxin]]

{{Chemical warfare}}
[[Category:Chemical weapons]]

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{{Sourceattribution|List of chemical warfare agents}}