The Dawn of Chemical Warfare

It was a beautiful morning in Hiroshima when the Little Boy made its presence known, killing

and injuring thousands of people. Not more than 3 days later, Japan experienced

another catastrophe in the form of the Fat Man, which again killed more than 30,000 people.

These incidents went on to become one of the most notorious bombing incidents in world’s

history, ones that would be printed in all upcoming history books.

On Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945, for the first time in world history, two nuclear bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of

Hiroshima (left) and Nagasaki (right). The nuclear bombs killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, mostly civilians.

How Chemical Warfare has affected the world

Although chemical warfare has been mentioned in ancient epics, known attacks date back to

600 BCE when the Athenian military tainted the water supply of the city of Kirrha with

poisonous hellebore plants. Around 479 BCE, sulphur fume attacks started to emerge, which

caused irritation to the throat, eyes, nose and lungs upon inhalation and burned upon contact.

Multiple deadly attacks between 1600-1900 made authorities realize the dangers

chemicals could bring into the war. This was further proven at the start of World War I, which

brought in a variety of weapons and proved to be a significant step in evolving the usage of

chemical warfare throughout the world.

1914, August

The French were the first ones to use ‘tear gas grenades’ containing chloroacetophenone (CN),

bromobenzyl cyanide (CA), dibenzoxazepine (CR), chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS),

chloropicrin (PS), and capsaicin.

Used for its immediate and debilitating short-term effects, most of WWI saw it being used to

disperse riots because of its effects on the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, mouth and

lungs leading to blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, breathing problems etc.

Long-term exposure can also cause chemical burns, respiratory failure or blindness.

1915, April 22

The German military launched the first large-scale use of chemical weapons at Ypres, Belgium by burying 170 metric tonnes of chlorine gas. More than 1,100 were killed and 7,000 were injured.

Chlorine gas forms a yellowish-green cloud with an odour similar to bleach. Mucous membrane irritation starts to occur around 1-3 parts per million (PPM). At doses above 15 PPM, pulmonary symptoms appear, and death by asphyxiation occurs within 30 minutes at concentrations beyond 430 PPM.

Chlorine, the gas of war crimes.

1915, December 19

Six days before Christmas, Germans used phosgene for the first time against the British

troops. Around 120 died and more than 1,000 were injured.

Phosgene is a colourless gas that has a hay-like odour, making it stealthier. It is thought to be

around six times more deadly than chlorine gas. After a couple of days, the victims' lungs

would swell with fluid, resulting in slow suffocation and an excrutiating death.

1917, July 12

German forces employed mustard gas for the first time, causing more than 2,100 casualties. It was responsible for the highest number of casualties from chemical weapons; more than 120,000.

A potent blistering agent often dubbed the “King of the Battle Gases”; it possesses a strong smell, like that of a dead horse. Like phosgene, its effects are not immediate, causing a victim's eyes to moisten and develop bloodshot hours after exposure, which was uncomfortable and occasionally caused temporary blindness. Blisters would form on the skin, especially in moist areas like the armpits and genitals.

Mustard gas: A legacy of WWI

1918, November

World War I ended with 1.3 million casualties caused by chemical weapons, including 90,000 - 100,000 fatalities primarily from phosgene.

Fritz Haber, arguably the most impactful yet tragic scientist of all time, was given the title, “Father of Chemical Warfare” for his years of pioneering work developing and weaponizing chlorine and other poisonous gases during WWI.

Fritz Haber - The man who killed millions and saved billions.

1936

German chemist Gerhard Schrader completes the synthesis and purification of tabun (GA), a

potent nerve poison. It has no flavour, is colourless or brown (depending on purity), has a

slightly fruity aroma, and is extremely volatile. It functions by obstructing an enzyme's ability

to function as the body's "off switch" for glands and muscles.

Symptoms appear within a few seconds after exposure to the vapour form, and within a few

minutes to hours after exposure to the liquid form. These include low or high blood pressure,

eye pain, pinpoint pupils etc., in the case of low or moderate doses; and unconsciousness,

paralysis, seizures and respiratory failure if exposed to a large dose.

The forthcoming wars followed a similar theme. However, chemical warfare can’t be

concluded until the discussion of large-scale bombs, whether they be nuclear or non-nuclear.

Non-nuclear bombs:

The term refers to a class of non-nuclear weapons that, when used alone or in combination

with other weapons, are capable of achieving decisive strategic results in combat.

1. Fusion Bombs: They produce a large proportion of energy in nuclear fusion reactions

and are generally referred to as thermonuclear weapons or more colloquially as

hydrogen bombs (H-bombs), as they depend on fusion reactions between the two

isotopes of hydrogen.

2. Fission Bombs: Notoriously referred to as atom bombs or nukes, they have long

been recognised as being somewhat misleading because their energy originates from

the atomic nucleus.

The Chemistry behind an atom bomb

1945, July 16

The first atomic bomb detonates at the Alamagardo bombing site, New Mexico, sealing the fate

of humanity.

After the success of this mission, code-named “Trinity”, Robert Oppenheimer, principal leader of the Manhattan project and considered the “Father of Atom Bombs”, quoted a phrase from the sacred Bhagavad Gita –

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”

Robbert Oppenheimer - Father of atom bombs

Working

1. The atom's nucleus must be held together with a significant amount of energy. This energy is released when it is broken apart.

2. The largest and heaviest naturally occurring nucleus, uranium, was selected by scientists as the best candidate for splitting. One of uranium's isotopes is the only naturally occurring element capable of supporting a nuclear fission reaction, making it special.

3. Uranium, often known as U238 (92 protons, 146 neutrons), has an atomic mass of 238. As a result, it is the periodic table's heaviest naturally occurring element. U238 is neither fissionable nor "splittable" due to its generally stable nature, which makes it an inert substance.

4. When uranium is mined, only a very small amount is in the form of U235 (92 protons and 143 neutrons). The unstable state of U236 is created when U235 is struck by a neutron, causing it to instantly split into the far more stable atoms of Krypton and Barium.

5. Three neutrons and a significant amount of energy are released during this process. These three neutrons shoot outside and strike more U235 atoms. Thus, a chain reaction takes place, which results in a massive explosion.

Current developments

1925, June 17

The Geneva Protocol was negotiated into international law and came into effect on February 8, 1928. It forbids the employment of chemical and biological weapons in combat. Chemical and biological weapons are "justly condemned by the general opinion of the civilised world," according to this pact.

The Chemical Weapons Convention, the newest arms control pact recognised by international

law, forbids the development, acquisition, and use of chemical weapons. The Organisation

for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an intergovernmental organisation with

headquarters in The Hague, is in charge of managing it. As a result, many nations, including

India, Iraq, Japan, Russia, and the United States, are currently destroying all of their chemical

weapons.

But with rumours that WW3 can start anytime, will the countries uphold the agreement made

by their side?

- Arin Saha