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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
'''Nerve agents''' are extremely deadly and harmful chemical agents. They include three classifications, including the V Series, the G Series, and the Novichok Agents. In both liquid and gaseous states they can be extremely potent. In both animals and humans nerve agents can cause a loss of consciousness, convulsions, lack of breathing, loss of control over muscles, and death. Originally created to serve as insecticides, German chemists quickly realized their full potential and the German government began to stockpile the chemical weapons in World War II. Today, they are regulated through the Chemical Weapons Convention, or the CWC.<ref>[http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Nerve+Agents Nerve Agents] ''toxipedia''. Web. Accessed May 27, 2013. Foley, Shaun. </ref> <ref>[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/doctrine/army/mmcch/NervAgnt.htm Nerve Agents]. ''Fas.org''. Web. Accessed 20 May 2013. Unknown Author.</ref> | '''Nerve agents''' are extremely deadly and harmful chemical agents. They include three classifications, including the V Series, the G Series, and the Novichok Agents. In both liquid and gaseous states they can be extremely potent. In both animals and humans nerve agents can cause a loss of consciousness, convulsions, lack of breathing, loss of control over muscles, and death. Originally created to serve as insecticides, German chemists quickly realized their full potential and the German government began to stockpile the chemical weapons in World War II. Today, they are regulated through the Chemical Weapons Convention, or the CWC.<ref name=toxipedia>[http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Nerve+Agents Nerve Agents] ''toxipedia''. Web. Accessed May 27, 2013. Foley, Shaun. </ref> <ref>[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/doctrine/army/mmcch/NervAgnt.htm Nerve Agents]. ''Fas.org''. Web. Accessed 20 May 2013. Unknown Author.</ref> | ||
<ref>[http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Chemical+Weapons+Convention Chemical Weapons Convention]. ''toxipedia''. Web. updated Apr 29, 2011. Gilbert, Steven</ref> | <ref>[http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Chemical+Weapons+Convention Chemical Weapons Convention]. ''toxipedia''. Web. updated Apr 29, 2011. Gilbert, Steven</ref> | ||
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== Classes == | == Classes == | ||
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The most highly developed agent in the V series is called VX, with the "V" standing for "venomous." This agent was concocted in 1952 by Ranajit Ghosh, a chemist working at Britain's Imperial Chemical Industries. The creation of the chemical was an accident, for Ghosh was merely researching for new ingredients to be used as pesticides and never expected to develop such a potent chemical. It was initially sold in the United States under the name of Amiton by the Imperial Chemical Industries in 1954, a mere two years after being discovered.<ref>[http://cornellbiochem.wikispaces.com/Amiton Amiton] ''Cornell Bio Chem''. Web. Accessed May 27, 2013. Sadie. </ref> | The most highly developed agent in the V series is called VX, with the "V" standing for "venomous." This agent was concocted in 1952 by Ranajit Ghosh, a chemist working at Britain's Imperial Chemical Industries. The creation of the chemical was an accident, for Ghosh was merely researching for new ingredients to be used as pesticides and never expected to develop such a potent chemical. It was initially sold in the United States under the name of Amiton by the Imperial Chemical Industries in 1954, a mere two years after being discovered.<ref>[http://cornellbiochem.wikispaces.com/Amiton Amiton] ''Cornell Bio Chem''. Web. Accessed May 27, 2013. Sadie. </ref> | ||
When it was realized that Amiton was extremely deadly to not only animals and insects but also humans, it was taken off the market. Shortly afterwards the American military and Britain's chemical weapons agency, Porton Down, initiated its use as a chemical weapon and changed its name to VX. Today, only licensed citizens and the government are allowed to maintain possession of the nerve agent. It is ten times as powerful as chemicals in the G series. | When it was realized that Amiton was extremely deadly to not only animals and insects but also humans, it was taken off the market. Shortly afterwards the American military and Britain's chemical weapons agency, Porton Down, initiated its use as a chemical weapon and changed its name to VX. Today, only licensed citizens and the government are allowed to maintain possession of the nerve agent. It is ten times as powerful as chemicals in the G series.<ref name=toxipedia/> | ||
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'''G-Series''' | '''G-Series''' | ||
The nerve agents within the G-series were first created in the 1930's. They received their name from the group of German chemists, headed by Gerhard Schrader, who first synthesized them. The nerve agents that make up the G series are tabun (more commonly known as GA), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF) and sarin (GB). Schrader and his team of chemists initially manufactured tabun (GA) in 1936, and shortly followed up with the creation of sarin (GB) in 1938. Afterwards, in 1944, soman (GD)came to existence along with cyclosarin (GF) in 1949. All nerve agents in the G-series are considered nonpersistent, which means that they are unable to exist for extended amounts of time under natural conditions. <ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nonpersistent nonpersitent]. ''The Free Dictionary'' Web. Accessed May 27, 2013. Unknown Author</ref> | The nerve agents within the G-series were first created in the 1930's. They received their name from the group of German chemists, headed by Gerhard Schrader, who first synthesized them. The nerve agents that make up the G series are tabun (more commonly known as GA), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF) and sarin (GB). Schrader and his team of chemists initially manufactured tabun (GA) in 1936, and shortly followed up with the creation of sarin (GB) in 1938. Afterwards, in 1944, soman (GD)came to existence along with cyclosarin (GF) in 1949. All nerve agents in the G-series are considered nonpersistent, which means that they are unable to exist for extended amounts of time under natural conditions. <ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nonpersistent nonpersitent]. ''The Free Dictionary'' Web. Accessed May 27, 2013. Unknown Author</ref> | ||
Although chemicals in the G series are the weakest type of nerve agent, these chemicals are considered some of the most noxious warfare agents ever created by man. <ref | Although chemicals in the G series are the weakest type of nerve agent, these chemicals are considered some of the most noxious warfare agents ever created by man.<ref name=toxipedia/> | ||
'''Novichok Agents''' | '''Novichok Agents''' | ||
During the final days of World War II, the Allies seized and destroyed many of Germany's weapons, including top-secret nerve agents German chemists had attempted to hide from the outside world. During this process, many of the chemical formulas for the agents were discovered by the United States, Britain and Russia. Once the chemical formula for VX, a member of the V-series, was made known to the Soviet Union, Russian chemists immediately began testing the nerve agent. Thus, the Novichok (Russian for "newcomer") Agents, or foliant agents, were developed in the late 1950's. The Soviet Union continued to secretly experiment on Novichok Agents well into the 80's and 90's, despite Russia's promise to NATO to declare all supplies of nerve agents. This activity persisted until an anonymous scientist revealed Russia's experiments with Novichok Agents to the media. Novichok Agents are by far the most toxic nerve chemicals, exceeding the strength of both the G series and the V series. <ref | During the final days of World War II, the Allies seized and destroyed many of Germany's weapons, including top-secret nerve agents German chemists had attempted to hide from the outside world. During this process, many of the chemical formulas for the agents were discovered by the United States, Britain and Russia. Once the chemical formula for VX, a member of the V-series, was made known to the Soviet Union, Russian chemists immediately began testing the nerve agent. Thus, the Novichok (Russian for "newcomer") Agents, or foliant agents, were developed in the late 1950's. The Soviet Union continued to secretly experiment on Novichok Agents well into the 80's and 90's, despite Russia's promise to NATO to declare all supplies of nerve agents. This activity persisted until an anonymous scientist revealed Russia's experiments with Novichok Agents to the media. Novichok Agents are by far the most toxic nerve chemicals, exceeding the strength of both the G series and the V series.<ref name=toxipedia/> | ||
== Effects == | == Effects == | ||
