Chemical weapon

A chemical weapon (CW) is a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans. According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), this can be any chemical compound intended as a weapon "or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action. Munitions or other delivery devices designed to deliver chemical weapons, whether filled or unfilled, are also considered weapons themselves." Lethal chemical weapons include nerve agents (tabun, sarin, soman, VX/VR, and Novichok) and blister agents (primarily mustard gas). Non-lethal chemical weapons include tear gases like CS gas and pepper spray and incapacitating agents like 3-Q/BZ. Chemical weapons are typically highly volatile, while some like VX are persistent.