Chemical weapon: Difference between revisions
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (New page: {{subpages}} A '''chemical weapon''' is a chemical, with a delivery system that can deliver the agent in militarily significant concentrations, the primary effect of which is to injure or ...) |
imported>Eric M Gearhart (added bit about gassing of the Kurds by Hussein) |
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A '''chemical weapon''' is a chemical, with a delivery system that can deliver the agent in militarily significant concentrations, the primary effect of which is to injure or kill through poisoning. While [[explosive]]s and [[incendiary|incendiaries]] are indeed chemical compounds, since their major military effect is through blast or heat, they are not considered chemical weapons. | A '''chemical weapon''' is a chemical, with a delivery system that can deliver the agent in militarily significant concentrations, the primary effect of which is to injure or kill through poisoning. While [[explosive]]s and [[incendiary|incendiaries]] are indeed chemical compounds, since their major military effect is through blast or heat, they are not considered chemical weapons. | ||
The production and use of chemical weapons is internationally banned by the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]]. Historically, the most extensive use of lethal chemical weapons was in the [[First World War]], although they were used sporadically in counterinsurgency, or in the [[Second World War]] Japanese campaign against [[China]]. | The production and use of chemical weapons is internationally banned by the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]]. Historically, the most extensive use of lethal chemical weapons was in the [[First World War]], although they were used sporadically in counterinsurgency, or in the [[Second World War]] Japanese campaign against [[China]]. The gassing of the [[Kurds|Kurdish people]] by [[Saddam Hussein]] is another well known example. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 23:22, 9 July 2008
A chemical weapon is a chemical, with a delivery system that can deliver the agent in militarily significant concentrations, the primary effect of which is to injure or kill through poisoning. While explosives and incendiaries are indeed chemical compounds, since their major military effect is through blast or heat, they are not considered chemical weapons.
The production and use of chemical weapons is internationally banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention. Historically, the most extensive use of lethal chemical weapons was in the First World War, although they were used sporadically in counterinsurgency, or in the Second World War Japanese campaign against China. The gassing of the Kurdish people by Saddam Hussein is another well known example.
History
While there were proposals, for example, for the use of chemical weapons in the American Civil War, the first large-scale use was in World War I.
World War I
Interwar
World War II
Vietnam
Types
Antipersonnel lethal or casualty
Choking gases
Blood gases
Vesicants
Nerve agents
- Binaries
G-agents
V-agents
Novichuk agents
Incapacitating
Tear gas
Vomiting gas
Psychoactives
Herbicides
References
Delivery systems
Significance in terrorism
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