Soman 142961 169546878 2007-11-06T05:39:00Z 66.103.113.20 Added tp category organophosphinates (more specific than organophosphates) {{otheruses4|the nerve agent|the band|Soman (band)}} {| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" align="right" width="300" style="margin-left: .5em; border-collapse: collapse" |- ! bgcolor="#FFDEAD" colspan="2" | Soman |- | align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="2" | [[Image:Soman-2D-skeletal.png|140px]] [[Image:Soman-3D-balls.png|140px]] |- ! bgcolor="#FFDEAD" colspan="2" | Discovery |- ! align="left" | <small>Discovered by</small> |<small>[[Richard Kuhn]]</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>Discovered in</small> | <small>[[1944]]</small> |- ! bgcolor="#FFDEAD" colspan="2" | Chemical characteristics |- ! align="left" | <small>[[IUPAC|Chemical name]]</small> | <small>3-(fluoro-methyl-phosphoryl)oxy-<br />2,2-dimethyl-butane</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>Chemical family</small> |<small>Fluorinated organophosphorus compound</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Chemical formula]]</small> | <small>C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>16</sub>FO<sub>2</sub>P</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[NFPA]] Rating</small> | {{NFPA 704 | Health=4 | Flammability=1 | Reactivity=1 }} |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Boiling point]]</small> | <small>198 °C </small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Freezing point|Freezing/melting point]]</small> | <small>&minus;42 °C (&minus;44 °F)</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Vapor pressure]]</small> | <small>0.40 mmHg (53 Pa) at 25 °C</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>Vapor [[relative density]] (air=1)</small> | <small>6.3</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Solubility]] in water</small> | <small>Moderate</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Density]] at 25 °C</small> | <small>1.022 g/cm³</small> |- ! align="left" | <small>[[Appearance]] and [[color]]</small> | <small>When pure, colorless liquid with fruity odor.<br />With impurities, amber or dark brown,<br />with oil of camphor odor</small> |- |} '''Soman''', also known by its [[NATO]] designation '''GD''' (O-Pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as one of the world's most dangerous military weapons. It is a [[nerve agent]], interfering with normal functioning of the mammalian [[nervous system]] by inhibiting the [[cholinesterase enzyme]]. As a [[chemical weapons|chemical weapon]], it is classified as a [[weapon of mass destruction]] by the [[United Nations]] according to [[UN Resolution 687]], and its production is strictly controlled and stockpiling outlawed by the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]] of [[1993]]. Soman was the third of the so-called ''G-series'' nerve agents to be discovered (along with [[tabun (nerve agent)|GA]] (tabun), [[sarin|GB]] (sarin), and [[cyclosarin|GF]] (cyclosarin)). It is a volatile, corrosive and colourless liquid with a faint odour when pure. More commonly, it is a yellow to brown color and has a stronger odour described as [[camphor]]. The [[LD50|LCt<sub><font size="-1">50</font></sub>]] for Soman is 70 mg·min/m<sup>3</sup> in humans. It is both more lethal and more persistent than [[sarin]] or [[tabun (nerve agent)|tabun]], but less so than [[cyclosarin]]. GD can be [[thickening|thickened]] for use as a chemical spray using an acryloid copolymer. It can also be deployed as a [[binary chemical weapon]]; its precursor chemicals are [[methylphosphonyl difluoride]] and a mixture of [[pinacolyl alcohol]] and an [[amine]]. ===Alternative names=== Soman is occasionally referred to by names other than ''soman'' or ''GD'': * Phosphonofluoridic acid, methyl-, 1, 2, 2-trimethylpropyl ester * Pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate * 1,2,2-Trimethylpropyl methylphosphonofluoridate * Methylpinacolyloxyfluorophosphine oxide * Pinacolyloxymethylphosphonyl fluoride * Pinacolyl methanefluorophosphonate * Methylfluoropinacolylphosphonate * Fluoromethylpinacolyloxyphosphine Oxide * Methylpinacolyloxyphosphonyl fluoride * Pinacolyl methylfluorophosphonate * 1,2,2-Trimethylpropoxyfluoromethylphosphine oxide ==History== Soman was discovered by [[Richard Kuhn]] in Germany in 1944, and represented the last wartime nerve agent discovery ([[cyclosarin|GF]] was not found until 1949). Soman was given the identifier GD post-war (GC was already in medical use) when the information relating to soman was recovered by the Soviet Union from its hiding place in a mine. == References == * United States Senate, 103d Congress, 2d Session. (May 25, 1994). [http://www.gulfweb.org/bigdoc/report/appgd.html Material Safety Data Sheet -- Lethal Nerve Agents Somain (GD and Thickened GD)]. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2004. ==External links== {{Chemical warfare}} [[Category:Anticholinesterases]] [[Category:Nerve agents]] [[Category:Organophosphates]] [[Category:Organophosphinates]] [[de:Soman]] [[fr:Soman]] [[nl:Soman]] [[ja:ソマン]] [[pl:Soman]] [[ru:Зоман]] [[sl:Soman]] [[tr:Soman]]