The chemistry of chemical weapons

2019-10-28T14:26:00

An image showing OPCW inspectors collecting samples during a mock inspection exercise

Source: Courtesy of OPCW

In this activity you will look at the chemistry behind a number of chemical weapons that have been employed throughout history

The word Novichok means ‘newcomer’ in Russian. Novichoks are a family of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s to elude international restrictions on chemical weapons. However, Novichoks are not the only chemical weapons that present a threat to human life. In this activity you will look at the chemistry behind a number of chemical weapons that have been employed throughout history.

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