Novichoks - The A group of organophosphorus chemical warfare agents

Abstract

Novichok use has become symbol for the chemical substances use to carry out political assassinations. In the last century, poisonous warfare agents were used for the first time on the battlefields, almost all over the world. After the World War II, new types of organophosphorus chemical warfare agents were developed. Novichoks are only ones, but the most important part of them - the 4th generation of chemical warfare agents. Despite the Chemical Weapons Convention, entered into force in 1997, there is still real threat of use of chemical weapons. This weapon can be used by both states, and transnational terrorist organisations. Novichoks, A code-named substances, should be permanently introduced into a number of chemical substances contained in organophosphorus chemical warfare poisonous agents. This article presents a short fourth-generation nerve agents' description. Group A compounds together with G and V groups compounds are organophosphorus chemical warfare agents which are very dangerous ones. Our article is an attempt to provide answer for the question - what are Novichoks? And why they should be introduced into Chemical Weapons Convention.

Keywords: Chemical warfare agents; Chemical weapon; Nerve agents; Novichok.