Question

The formula of tear gas is:
A. $\text{COC}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}$
B. $\text{C}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$
C. $\text{C}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}$
D. $\text{CC}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}\text{N}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$

Answer 1

Hint: Tear gas is also called lachrymator gas. It is not a gas but an aerosol. The actual formula of tear gas is ${{\text{C}}_{\text{10}}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{5}}}\text{Cl}{{\text{N}}_{\text{2}}}$ but there are different types of compounds that may be used as tear gas.

Complete step by step answer:

The actual formula for tear gas is ${{\text{C}}_{\text{10}}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{5}}}\text{Cl}{{\text{N}}_{\text{2}}}$ but many other compounds can also be used as tear gas.
One such compound is $\text{CC}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}\text{N}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$ also called as trichloronitromethane.
- It is prepared by the reaction of nitromethane with sodium hypochlorite :${{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}\text{CN}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\text{+3NaOCl}\to \text{C}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}\text{CN}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\text{+3NaOH}$
Therefore, the correct option is D.

Additional information: Generally the term tear gas refers to a group of chemical irritants that can be used to control riots or crowds.
- Tear gas generally consists of aerosolized solids or liquid components not gas.
- It works by irritating mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, mouth, and lungs.
- Tear gas is used as a chemical weapon that causes severe eye and respiratory pain, skin irritation, bleeding, and blindness.
- This is a type of non-lethal weapon, having some risk of serious permanent injury or death.
- They act almost instantly, but the irritation they induce is usually resolved in about 30 minutes to a few hours.
- The active component in tear gas is 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile which target a specific receptor in the body called TRPA1.

Note: Till now there is no specific treatment of tear gas but by covering your eyes, ears and skin you can protect yourself from tear gas. Apart from these there are some home remedies such as vinegar, petroleum jelly, milk and lemon juice.