Nerve poison (nerve gas, agents) have had an entirely dominant role since the Second World War. Nerve poisons acquired their name because they affect the transmission of nerve impulses in the nervous system. All nerve poisons belong chemically to the group of organo-phosphorus compounds. They are stable and easily dispersed, highly toxic and have rapid effects both when absorbed through the skin and via respiration. Nerve poisons can be manufactured by means of fairly simple chemical techniques. The raw materials are inexpensive and generally readily available.
The most important nerve agents included in modern chemical weapons arsenals are:
Tabun | (o-ethyl dimethylamidophosphorylcyanide) |
Sarin | (isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) |
Soman | (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) |
GF | (cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate) |
VX | (o-ethyl S-diisopropylaminomethyl methylphosphonothiolate) |
Nerve poisons are colorless, odorless, tasteless liquids of low volatility. Antidotes are atropine sulfate and pralidoxime iodide.
Pit coal is natural black coal that has a carbon content of 75 %-90 %. It is an important raw material in organic industry
Nitrogen was discovered by Daniel Rutherford (Scotland) in 1772. The origin of the name comes from the Greek words nitron genes meaning nitre and forming and the Latin word nitrum (nitre is a common name for potassium nitrate, KNO3). It is colourless, odourless, generally inert gas. Minimally reactive at room temperature. A component of many organic and inorganic compounds. Makes up about 78 % of earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen is obtained from liquid air by fractional distillation. Primarily to produce ammonia and other fertilizers. Also used in making nitric acid, which is used in explosives. Also used in welding and enhanced oil recovery.
Sedimentary Rocks are formed by the accumulation and subsequent consolidation of sediments into various types of rock. There are three major types of sedimentary rocks:
Biogenic sedimentary rocks are formed from organic processes when organisms use materials dissolved in water to build a shell or other skeletal structure.
Clastic sedimentary rocks are composed directly of the sediments or fragments from other rocks.
Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed through evaporation of a chemical rich solution.
Based on their sizes, sediment particles are classified, based on their size, into six general categories:
Silicon was discovered by Jöns Jacob Berzelius (Sweden) in 1824. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word silicis meaning flint. Amorphous form of silicon is brown powder; crystalline form has grey metallic appearance. Solid form unreactive with oxygen, water and most acids. Dissolves in hot alkali. Silica dust is a moderately toxic acute irritant. Silicon makes up major portion of clay, granite, quartz and sand. Commercial production depends on a reaction between sand (SiO2) and carbon at a temperature of around 2200 °C. Used in glass as silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon carbide (SiC) is one of the hardest substances known and used in polishing. Also the crystalline form is used in semiconductors.
White spirit (mineral spirits, petroleum spirits) is a paraffin-derived clear, transparent liquid which is a common organic solvent used in painting and decorating.
Smoke is a fine suspension of solid particles in a gas. In general smoke particles range downward from about 5 μm in diameter to less than 01 μm in diameter. Smoke generally refers to a visible mixture of products given off by the incomplete combustion of an organic substance such as wood, coal, fuel oil etc. This airborne mixture general contains small particles (dusts) of carbon, hydrocarbons, ash etc. as well as vapors such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
Supercritical fluid is any substance above its critical temperature and critical pressure (see phase diagram). It shows unique properties that are different from those of either gases or liquids under standard conditions. A supercritical fluid has both the gaseous property of being able to penetrate anything, and the liquid property of being able to dissolve materials into their components. Solublity increases with increasing density (i.e. with increasing pressure). An example of this is naphthalene which is practically insoluble in low pressure carbon dioxide. At 100 bar the solubility is 10 g/L and at 200 bar it is 50 g/L. Rapid expansion of supercritical solutions leads to precipitation of a finely divided solid.
Generalic, Eni. "Sirova nafta." Croatian-English Chemistry Dictionary & Glossary. 29 June 2022. KTF-Split. {Date of access}. <https://glossary.periodni.com>.
Glossary
Periodic Table