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Disposal of Legacy Nerve Agent GA and Lewisite Stocks at Deseret Chemical Depot: Letter Report (2009)

Chapter: ATTACHMENT B PERTINENT PROPERTIES OF GA AND LEWISITE

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Suggested Citation:"ATTACHMENT B PERTINENT PROPERTIES OF GA AND LEWISITE." National Research Council. 2009. Disposal of Legacy Nerve Agent GA and Lewisite Stocks at Deseret Chemical Depot: Letter Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12763.
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Page 24

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ATTACHMENT B PERTINENT PROPERTIES OF GA AND LEWISITE GA (ethyl N,N-dimethylphosphoroamido cyanidate) is an anticholinesterase organophosphate nerve agent whose effects and potency are similar to those of GB (sarin). Its vapor pressure (0.057 torr at 25ºC) and volatility (497 mg/m3 at 25ºC) are the lowest of the G nerve agents. It is soluble in water and organic solvents. Diethyl dimethylphosphoramidate is the principle impurity found in munitions-grade GA. Hydrolysis of GA is more rapid in acidic and basic solutions than in neutral pH, and the rate increases with temperature. Sodium hypochlorite is an effective decontaminant for GA. Lewisite (2-chlorovinyl-dichloroarsine) is a blister-forming agent with irritative effects on the eyes and respiratory tract. Lewisite has the volatility of water with a vapor pressure of 34.6 torr at 25C and a volatility of 386 mg/m3 at 25ºC and is only slightly soluble in water. Hydrolysis of lewisite is rapid, forming water-soluble dihydroxy 2- chlorovinylarsine (2-chlorovinyl arsenous acid), which is nonvolatile. __________________________ SOURCE: U.S. Army, “Potential military chemical/biological agents and compounds,” Manual FM3-11.9, January 2005. -24-

Next: ATTACHMENT C PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAMS FOR GA AND LEWISITE PROCESSING AND SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM FOR ATLIC POLLUTION ABATEMENT SYSTEM ( »
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