World War chlorine

Gaseous chlorine was first used as an asphyxiant in chemical warfare in April 1915 when the Germans launched a cloud attack against the Africans, Canadians and French in the Ypres salient. There were 20,000 casualties of which 5000 were ratal, whilst many others were damaged for life. Very small amounts of chlorine in the air help to ward off colds and to relieve them when once they have gained a hold. After the first world war chlorine chambers were used in America and the custom received a fillip when President Coolidge himself in May 1924 received treatment in one and was able to state afterwards that he felt considerable relief from his cold. The maximum safe concentration is 1 ppm in air for more or less prolonged inhalation 32 ppm constitute a lethal dose in 30 minutes. 

Sodium Hydroxide. Before World War 1, nearly all sodium hydroxide [1310-93-2], NaOH, was produced by the reaction of soda ash and lime. The subsequent rapid development of electrolytic production processes, resulting from growing demand for chlorine, effectively shut down the old lime—soda plants except in Eastern Europe, the USSR, India, and China. Recent changes in chlorine consumption have reduced demand, putting pressure on the price and availabiHty of caustic soda (NaOH). Because this trend is expected to continue, there is renewed interest in the lime—soda production process. EMC operates a 50,000 t/yr caustic soda plant that uses this technology at Green River it came onstream in mid-1990. Other U.S. soda ash producers have aimounced plans to constmct similar plants (1,5). 

A significant advance in flame retardancy was the introduction of binary systems based on the use of halogenated organics and metal salts (6,7). In particular, a 1942 patent (7) described a finish for utilizing chlorinated paraffins and antimony(III) oxide [1309-64-4]. This type of finish was invaluable in World War II, and saw considerable use on outdoor cotton fabrics in both uniforms and tents. 

Fluorine was first produced commercially ca 50 years after its discovery. In the intervening period, fluorine chemistry was restricted to the development of various types of electrolytic cells on a laboratory scale. In World War 11, the demand for uranium hexafluoride [7783-81-5] UF, in the United States and United Kingdom, and chlorine trifluoride [7790-91 -2J, CIF, in Germany, led to the development of commercial fluorine-generating cells. The main use of fluorine in the 1990s is in the production of UF for the nuclear power industry (see Nuclearreactors). However, its use in the preparation of some specialty products and in the surface treatment of polymers is growing. 

U.S. chlorine trifluoride production is several metric tons per year. Most of the product is used in nuclear fuel processing. A large production plant for chlorine trifluoride was operated in Germany during World War II with a reported capacity of 5 t/d (106,107). As of 1993, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. was the only U.S. producer. The 1992 price was ca 100/kg. 

After World War I, other chlohne-based bleaches were developed. In 1921 the use of chlorine dioxide for bleaching fibers was reported followed by the development of the commercial process for large-scale production of sodium chlorite. In 1928 the first dry calcium hypochlorite containing 70% available chlorine was produced in the United States. This material largely replaced bleaching powder as a commercial bleaching agent. 

The modem history of the military use of toxic chemical agents (1,3—5) dates from the first full-scale (chlorine) gas attack on April 22, 1915, near Ypres, Belgium in World War I. There were a few reports of the limited use of toxic chemicals since that time. The Italians employed mustard, a bUster agent, during the Ethiopian war in 1935 and 1936 the Japanese used toxic chemicals in a number of small-scale engagements in the early years of their war with China and Iraq purportedly employed both mustard and nerve gases in the 1980s. 

The process of post-chlorinating PVC was carried out during World War II in order to obtain polymers soluble in low-cost solvents and which could therefore be used for fibres and lacquers. The derivate was generally prepared by passing chlorine through a solution of PVC in tetrachloroethane at between 50°C and 100°C. Solvents for the product included methylene dichloride, butyl acetate and acetone. These materials were of limited value because of their poor colour, poor light stability, shock brittleness and comparatively low softening point. 

In addition to being the most widely used disinfectant for water treatment, chlorine is extensively used in a variety of products, including paper products, dyestuffs, textiles, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, antiseptics, insecticides, foodstuffs, solvents, paints, and other consumer products. Most chlorine produced is used in the manufacture of chlorinated compounds for sanitation, pulp bleaching, disinfectants, and textile processing. It is also used in the manufacture of chlorates, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride and in the extraction of bromine. Among other past uses, chlorine served as a war gas during World War I. 

Over 100 years ago it had been demonstrated that ozone (Oj). the unstable triatomic allotrope of oxygen, could destroy molds and bacteria and by 1892 several experimental ozone plants were in operation in Europe. In the 1920s, however, as a result of wartime research, during World War I, chlorine became readily... 

WEB DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was the first chlorinated insecticide developed. It was used extensively in World War II to eradicate the mosquitoes that spread malaria. Its use was banned in the United States in 1978 because of environmental concerns. DDT is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms. When a 5.000-g sample of DDT is burned in oxygen, 8.692 g of C02 and 1.142 g of H20 are obtained. A second five-gram sample yields 2.571 g of HC1. What is the simplest formula for DDT ... 

Chlorine trifluoride is a toxic, intensely reactive gas. It was used in World War II to make incendiary bombs. It reacts with ammonia and forms nitrogen, chlorine, and hydrogen fluoride gases. When two moles of chlorine trifluoride reacts, 1196 kj of heat is evolved. 

During World War I. Haber was in charge of the German poison gas program. In April of 1915. the Germans used chlorine for the first time on the Western front, causing 5000 fatalities. Haber s wife. Clara, was aghast she pleaded with her husband to forsake poison gas. When he adamantly refused to do so. she committed suicide. 

The simultaneous reaction of sulfur dioxide and chlorine with paraffins, named sulfochlorination, was discovered by Reed and Horn in the 1930s [9]. The primary products of this reaction are the alkanesulfochlorides [10], which can be saponified to alkanesulfonates by sodium hydroxide solution or treated with substituted phenolates to give plasticisers. In a short time the process was industrially realized to secure detergent production during World War II in Germany [11]. 

C06-0107. Phosgene (CI2 C I O) is a highiy toxic gas that was used for chemical warfare during World War I. Use the bond energies in Table 6 2 to estimate the energy change that occurs when carbon monoxide and chlorine combine to make phosgene. C I 0(g) + Cl2(g) CI2 C I 0(g)... 

The first large-scale use of chemical agents came in World War I on 22 April 1915, when the Germans released chlorine gas against the Allied positions at Ypres, Belgium. The gas was very effective, killing 5,000 and scaring 10,000,... 

The interplay between the chemical and biological properties of the threat agent, on the one hand, and the specific attack scenario, on the other, can influence the lethality of the attack. Table 2-2 shows the relative respiratory toxicities (expressed as the lethal concentration of toxin at which 50 percent of test animals are killed, or LCT50, in milligrams per minute per cubic meter) of a variety of toxic gases compared with chlorine gas, which was used as a chemical weapon in World War I. According to Table 2-2, the nerve agent sarin (GB) has a respiratory toxicity approximately 100 times that of chlorine, while sulfur mustard (HD) is about 7 times more toxic. However, the lethality of an attack... 

When acids and bases are mixed, a neutralization reaction occurs. Not all acids and bases should be mixed, however. Bleach, which is a solution of sodium or calcium hypochlorite, for example, should never be mixed with any kind of acid because the resulting chemical reaction creates the deadly gas chlorine. Chlorine gas was used as a chemical weapon in World War I, and breathing it can destroy lung tissue. The lungs fill with fluid, and the unfortunate victim eventually dies by suffocation. 

Sodium is a very reactive metallic element for example, it liberates hydrogen gas when treated with water. Chlorine is a yellow-green, choking gas, used in World War I as a poison gas. Contrast these properties with those of the compound of sodium and chlorine—sodium chloride—known as table salt. 

CHLORINATED PARAFFIN AND ANTIMONY OXIDE. The demands Of the armed forces in World War II for a fire retardant, waterproof treatment for canvas tenting led to the development of a combination treatment containing a chlorinated paraffin (CP), antimony oxide and a binder... 

Some synonyms in the Alphabetical index are followed by bracketed notations. These notations provide additional clarifying information about the entry such as composition, modifications to the agents (e.g., thickened, dusty, binary), or a note for historical context. For example, "White Star" was a gas blend that was employed by the British in World War I consisting of 50% phosgene and 50% chlorine. The entry appears as ... 

De Nora An electrolytic process for making chlorine and sodium hydroxide solution from brine. The cell has a mercury cathode and graphite anodes. It was developed in the 1950s by the Italian company Oronzio De Nora, Impianti Elettrochimici, Milan, based on work by I. G. Farbenindustrie in Germany during World War II. In 1958 the Monsanto Chemical Company introduced it into the United States in its plant at Anniston, AL. See also Mercury cell. 

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