Tabun, given the NATO designation GA, is an extremely toxic nerve agent of the organophosphate family and does not occur in nature. At room temperature the pure compound is a clear, viscous liquid, though manufacturing impurities usually leave it yellow or brown, and it slowly evaporates into the air with a faint fruity or almond-like odor. It was discovered by the German researcher Gerhard Schrader in late December 1936 while he was developing organophosphate insecticides for IG Farben, and it works by potently inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme essential to the nervous system. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Weapon ClassNerve agent (chemical warfare agent) 1 Introduced Year Connections
Associated With
Source Wikipedia: VX (nerve agent)
Used In
Source Wikipedia: Tabun (nerve agent)
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Tabun (nerve agent)
Lead section
Tabun was the first nerve agent discovered, in 1936 by Gerhard Schrader in Nazi Germany
Used In: Iran-Iraq War, Wikipedia article text
Tabun was only known to have been used in the extensive Iraqi chemical attacks of the Iran-Iraq War.
View the SourceWikipedia: Sarin
Associated With: Sarin, History sectionQuote, Associated With: Sarin, History section
The compound, which followed the discovery of the nerve agent tabun, was named in honor of its discoverers:
Wikipedia: VX (nerve agent)
Associated With: VX Nerve Agent, Discovery sectionQuote, Associated With: VX Nerve Agent, Discovery section
It was developed further at Porton Down in England during the early 1950s, based on research first done by Gerhard Schrader, a chemist working for IG Farben in Germany during the 1930s.
Wikipedia: Soman
Associated With: Soman, History sectionQuote, Associated With: Soman, History section
Nobel Laureate Richard Kuhn together with Konrad Henkel discovered soman during research into the pharmacology of tabun and sarin at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Medical Research at Heidelberg.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.