What does the VX stand for in VX nerve agent?
venomous agent X
VX, short for “venomous agent X”, is one of the best known of the V nerve agents and was first discovered at Porton Down in England during the early 1950s based on research first done by Gerhard Schrader, a chemist working for IG Farben in Germany during the 1930s.
How long does VX nerve agent last?
Health effects from mild to moderate exposure may be delayed up to 18 hours; larger exposures may cause death within minutes to hours. EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM (LESS THAN 8-HOURS) EXPOSURE: Nerve agents cause the same health effects regardless of the route of exposure.
How strong is VX?
The lethal dose for VX ranges from about 10 milligrams via skin contact to 25 to 30 milligrams if inhaled. Early symptoms can include pinprick pupils, runny nose, wheezing and muscle twitching. Death can occur anywhere from within a few minutes to hours, depending on the dose and the method of contact.
Which countries have VX nerve agent?
The US and Russia are the only countries that have admitted owning VX stockpiles, but more countries are believed to hold it. The US destroyed a small portion of its stockpile under the Chemical Weapons Convention and there have been moves for Russia to follow suit.
Where did VX come from?
The chemical was invented in Britain during the 1950’s by a chemist called Ranaji Ghosh who was working for Imperial Chemical Industries. Inspired by a commercial pesticide, it was further tested by the British military, before being passed to US counterparts, who began full-scale production of VX in 1961.
Is Novichok worse than VX?
They are more toxic than other agents Some variants of Novichok are thought to be five to eight times more toxic than the VX nerve agent. “This is a more dangerous and sophisticated agent than sarin or VX and is harder to identify,” says Professor Gary Stephens, a pharmacology expert at the University of Reading.
Is VX soluble in water?
VX is odorless, tasteless, soluble in cold water, and only moderately soluble in water above 9.5 degrees Celsius. Symptoms of VX appear very rapidly and treatment must be administered immediately after exposure. VX is among the most lethal nerve agents.
What does VX do to the body?
Currently classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction, VX is a potent, rapid-acting poison that cripples the nervous system, causing paralysis and eventual death by suffocation. The CDC calls it “the most potent of all nerve agents.” It kills quickly, even after exposure to infinitesimal amounts.
Who made VX?
Ranaji Ghosh
VX was first synthesised in the early to mid-1950s by Ranaji Ghosh, a chemist working for Imperial Chemical Industries in Britain.
How is VX delivered?
VX can be distributed as a liquid or, through evaporation or vaporization, such as through high temperatures, it can be distributed as gas. Exposure can be by skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
Is VX the same as Novichok?
How is VX gas destroyed?
Inside the reactor, the VX was hydrolyzed by adding a 200°F solution of water and sodium hydroxide. The empty ton containers were washed and decontaminated by using a high-temperature heat treatment. This treatment is similar to that used to destroy waste material at the incineration sites.
What is the PH of VX?
For example, approximate reported half-life values for VX (O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate) at 25 °C vary from 7 days at pH 8 to 30 days at pH 7 [4]….1.1. Chemistry of VX.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Liquid density | 1.008 g cm3 (20 °C)a |
| Solubility | 30 g/L (miscible) |
| Vapor pressure | 0.00063 mmHg (25 °C) |
Is novichok worse than VX?
How do you detect VX?
exposed to VX. A urine or blood sample can definitively determine whether a person was exposed to VX. Other nerve agents will cause similar damage to individuals. ▫ Other nerve agents will also cause symptoms within seconds of exposure to vapors and within minutes and up to 18 hours after exposure to liquid.
What is the difference between sarin and VX?
VX is the most potent of all nerve agents. Compared with the nerve agent sarin (also known as GB), VX is considered to be much more toxic by entry through the skin and somewhat more toxic by inhalation.
What is VX?
What VX is 1 VX is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known chemical warfare agents. 2 VX was developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1950s. 3 VX is odorless and tasteless. 4 VX is an oily liquid that is amber in color and very slow to evaporate.
What is the chemical name of the nerve agent VX?
VX is an extremely toxic synthetic chemical compound in the organophosphorus class, specifically, a thiophosphonate. In the class of nerve agents, it was developed for military use in chemical warfare after translation of earlier discoveries of organophosphate toxicity in pesticide research.
Where is VX found in the environment?
Where VX is found and how it is used. It is possible that VX or other nerve agents were used in chemical warfare during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. VX is not found naturally in the environment. The only known use of VX is as a chemical warfare agent.