List of chemical warfare agents

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This article forms part of the series
Chemical agents
Lethal agents
Blood agents
Cyanogen chloride (CK)
Hydrogen cyanide (AC)
Blister agents
Ethyldichloroarsine (ED)
Methyldichloroarsine (MD)
Phenyldichloroarsine (PD)
Lewisite (L)
Sulfur mustard (HD, H, HT, HL, HQ)
Nitrogen mustard (HN1 · HN2 · HN3))
Nerve agents
G-Agents
Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB)
Soman (GD), Cyclosarin (GF)
GV
V-Agents
EA-3148, VE, VG, VM, VR, VX
Novichok agents
Nettle agents
Phosgene oxime (CX)
Pulmonary agents
Chlorine
Chloropicrin (PS)
Phosgene (CG)
Diphosgene (DP)
Incapacitating agents
Agent 15 (BZ)
DMHP
EA-3167
Kolokol-1
Riot control agents
Pepper spray (OC)
CS
CN (mace)
CR
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A chemical weapon agent (CWA) is a chemical substance whose toxic properties are used to kill, injure or incapacitate. 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:

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Tear agents

Main article: Lachrymatory agent

These sensory irritants produce immediate pain to the eyes and irritate mucous membranes (aka lachrymatory agent or lachrymator).

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Psychological agents

These are substances that produce casualty effects though mental disturbances such as delerium or hallucination.

[edit] Other incapacitating agents

These substances have also been investigated as incapacitants, though they operate more through interactions outside the central nervous system.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Blister agents

Main article: Blister agent

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.

[edit] Vesicants

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

[edit] Nitrogen mustards
Main article: Nitrogen mustard
  • Bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine (HN1)
  • Bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2)
  • Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN3)
[edit] Sulfur mustards
Main article: Sulfur mustard
  • 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)
[edit] Arsenicals

[edit] Urticants

The urticants are substances that produce a painful wheal on the skin. These are sometimes termed skin necrotizers and are known as the most painful substances produced.

[edit] Blood agents

Main article: Blood agent

These substances are metabolic poisons that interfere with the life-sustaining processes of the blood.

[edit] Choking agents

Main article: 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.

[edit] Nerve agents

Main article: Nerve agent

Nerve agents are substances that disrupt the chemical communications through the nervous system. The disruption is caused by blocking the acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that normally destroys and stops the activity of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Poisoning by a nerve agent leads to an accumulation of acetylcholinesterase at the nerve axon, producing a perpetual excited state (e.g., muscle contraction). The eventual exhaustion of muscles leads to respiratory failure and death.

[edit] G series

These are low volatility nerve agents that are typically used for a nonpersistent to semipersistent effect.

[edit] GV series

These agents have a volatility between the V and G agents and are typically used for a semi-persistent to persistent effect.

[edit] V series

These agents have low volatility and are typically used for a persistent effect or liquid contact hazard.

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