VX gas

E91072

VX gas is an extremely toxic, persistent nerve agent developed for chemical warfare, known for its rapid disruption of the nervous system even at very low exposure levels.

Aliases (1)

Statements (57)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Schedule 1 chemical
chemical warfare agent
nerve agent
organophosphorus compound
allowedUse research under strict control
antidote atropine
diazepam
pralidoxime
belongsToClass V-series nerve agents
boilingPoint 298 °C
chemicalFormula C11H26NO2PS
color amber
countryDestroyedStockpiles Russia
United States
decontaminationMethod oxidizing agents such as hypochlorite
strong alkaline hydrolysis
developedFor chemical warfare
developedInCountry United Kingdom NERFINISHED
discoveredBy J. F. Newman
Ranajit Ghosh
discoveredIn 1952
effectOnBody accumulation of acetylcholine at synapses
disruption of nervous system signaling
environmentalPersistence days to weeks on surfaces
hasOtherName Amiton analog
VX nerve agent
ethyl methylphosphonothioic acid S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] ester
hydrolysisProduct less toxic phosphonic acids
IUPACName O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate
laterWeaponizedBy United States
LCt50InhalationHumanEstimate about 30–50 mg·min/m³
LD50DermalHumanEstimate about 10 mg
mechanismOfAction acetylcholinesterase inhibition
meltingPoint −51 °C
notableIncident assassination of Kim Jong-nam in 2017
odor virtually odorless
onsetOfSymptoms seconds to minutes after exposure
persistence high
physicalStateAtRoomTemperature liquid
primaryCauseOfDeath respiratory arrest
prohibitedUse warfare
regulatedBy Chemical Weapons Convention
routeOfExposure dermal absorption
ingestion
inhalation
ocular exposure
solubilityInOrganicSolvents high
solubilityInWater slightly soluble
storageForm binary or unitary munitions
symptom bronchoconstriction
convulsions
excessive salivation
miosis
muscle twitching
respiratory failure
toxicity extremely high
volatility very low

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
The Rock
featuresWeapon

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