Question

The chemical formula of tear gas is_____

Answer 1

The chemical formula of tear gas is ${\mathrm{Cl}}_3{\mathrm{CNO}}_2\left(\mathrm{chloropicrin}\right),\mathrm{also}\mathrm{known}\mathrm{as}\mathrm{trichloromethane}$.

Riot control agents (sometimes referred to as ‘tear gas’ are chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin.

Preparation of chloropicrin: Chloropicrin is prepared in the lab by heating chloroform with concentrated nitric acid. The chemical reaction is as follows:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CHCl}}_3+{\mathrm{HNO}}_3\to {\mathrm{Cl}}_3{\mathrm{NO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} \\ \mathrm{chloroform}\mathrm{nitric}\mathrm{chloropicrin} \\ \mathrm{acid} \end{gathered}$$

• It is a colorless liquid.
• Chloropicrin is sparingly soluble in water and volatile liquid.
• In agriculture, it is used as a fungicide, insecticide, and herbicide.
• Chloropicrin irritates the mucosal membrane and causes the draining of tears to remove the gas from the eyes. It is used as tear gas.
• Chloropicrin vapors irritate the skin, eyes, and the upper respiratory tract.