VX (nerve agent)

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RTC (talk | contribs) at 01:27, 21 March 2003 (fix detail). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The VX nerve gas is the most well-known of the V-series of nerve agents. Its chemical name is O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate. The chemical formula is CH3CH20-P(O)(CH3)-SCH2CH2N(C3H7)2

File:VX-Gas.png
Structural formula

Many countries, such as the US (and who?), fear that other nations, such as Iraq (and who?), have VX nerve gas with which to attack. VX gas is considered a weapon of mass destruction because of its property of spreading out as all gasses do.

To do: countries with VX, more on discovery of VX, uses of VX in wars, etc.

Researchers in Port Down, England in 1952 invented the chemical. It works by blocking an enzyme that nerve endings use to stop firing, causing them to fire continiously resulting in contractions of all the "involuntary" muscles in the body. As little as 10 mg is enough to kill an average person.

See also: Nerve gas

This is a stub; you can help Wikipedia by fixing it.