TABLE 3-1Chemical and Physical Data

Sulfur MustardLewisiteNitrogen Mustard
Chemical Abstracts Registry Number505-60-2541-25-351-75-2
Chemical formulaC4H8Cl2SC2H2AsCl3C5H11Cl2N
Chemical structureCH2-CH2ClH AsCl2 CH2-CH2Cl
SH3C-N
CH2-CH2ClCl HCH2-CH2Cl
Synonyms1,1'-Thiobis(2-chloroethane); 2,2'-dichloroethyl sulfide; bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide; ,'-dichloroethyl sulfide; mustard gas; Schwefel-Lost; S-Lost; Yperite; yellow cross; Senfgas; Kampstoff "Lost"; dichlorodiethyl sulfideChlorovinyldichloroarsine; 2-chlorovinyldichloroarsine; chlorovinylarsine dichloride; dichloro(2-chlorovinyl)arsineMechlorethamine; chlormethine; 2-chloro-N-(2-chloroethyl)-Nmethylethanamine; Stickstofflost; di(chloroethyl)methylamine
AbbreviationsH (Levinstein mustard), HD (distilled mustard), HT (impure mixture)LHN2; related compounds include HN1, ethylbis(chloroethyl)amine; and HN3, tris(-chloroethyl)amine
Melting point13C-14C0.1C-60C
Boiling point215C-217C at 760 mm Hg190C at 760 mm Hg (decomposes)87C at 18 Hg
Molecular weight159.08207.32156.1
SolubilityVery sparingly soluble in water; soluble in oily solvents; high lipid solubilityInsoluble in water, soluble in ordinary organic solventsVery slightly soluble in water
Appearance and odorColorless when pure, normally yellow to brown oily liquid, slight garlic-type odorLiquid, faint odor of geraniumLiquid, faint fishy odor

SOURCES: Budavari, 1989; Hazardous Substances Databank, 1991; IARC, 1975; Somani, 1992; U.S. Army CRDEC, 1988, 1990.

From: 3, History and Analysis of Mustard Agent and Lewisite Research Programs in the United States

Cover of Veterans at Risk
Veterans at Risk: The Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Survey of the Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite; Pechura CM, Rall DP, editors.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1993.
Copyright 1993 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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