Sarin

Synonyms

GB; (+-)-Isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate; 1-Methylethyl (+-)-methylphosphonofluoridate; EA 1208; IMPF; Isopropoxymethylphoshoryl fluoride; Isopropoxymethylphosphoryl fluoride; Isopropyl methanefluorophosphonate; Isopropyl methylfluorophosphate; Isopropyl-methyl-phosphoryl fluoride; Isopropylester kyseliny methylfluorfosfonove [Czech]; MFI; Methlyfluorophosphonic acid isopropyl ester; Methylfluorphosphorsaeureisopropylester [German]; Methylphosphonofluoride acid, isopropyl ester; Methylphosphonofluoridic acid 1-methylethyl ester; Methylphosphonofluoridic acid isopropyl ester; Nerve agent; Phosphine oxide, fluoroisopropoxymethyl-; Phosphonofluoridic acid, methyl-, 1-methylethyl ester; Phosphonofluoridic acid, methyl-, isopropyl ester, (+-)-; Phosphoric acid, methylfluoro-, isopropyl ester; Sarin II; T-144; T-2106; TL 1618; Trilone 46; o-Isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate; Phosphonofluoridic acid, P-methyl-, 1-methylethyl ester; Phosphonofluoridic acid, methyl-, isopropyl ester; [ChemIDplus] Lethal Nerve Agent (GB); [U.S. Army ECBC MSDS] UN2810

Category

Chemical Weapons

Description

"G-type agents are clear, colorless, and tasteless liquids that are miscible in water and most organic solvents. GB is odorless and is the most volatile nerve agent; however, it evaporates at about the same rate as water." [ATSDR Medical Management]

Sources/Uses

Chemical warfare

Comments

Sarin is an odorless, colorless liquid with a vapor pressure of 2.1 at 68 degrees F. It persists in the soil for 2-24 hours. [Jane, p. 83-4] "SARIN has an especially rapid onset of action. On a weight basis it is less potent than VX. A drop of the liquid on skin may be sufficient to cause death." [HSDB] "As little as one drop of VX on the skin can be fatal and 1 to 10 mL of GA, GB, or GD can be fatal." [ATSDR Medical Management] Hydrolyzed by water removing the fluorine atom and producing a non-toxic acid; [Merck Index] Extremely toxic cholinesterase inhibitor; Lethal-dose in humans possibly as low as 0.01 mg/kg and can be fatal within 15 minutes; [CAMEO] See the disease, "Organophosphate & carbamates, acute poisoning."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

2.86 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 150 mg/m3/10min

Explanatory Notes

VP from HSDB;

Other Poison

Organophosphate

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Organophosphates & carbamates, acute poisoning