Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: syhprum on 29/08/2013 20:21:24

Title: The source of the poison gas used in Syria
Post by: syhprum on 29/08/2013 20:21:24
Although establishing the source of the Sarin gas used in Syria would be too late to prevent an American air strike it would seem that with careful analysis of any recovered samples could determine whether it was the industrially produced form that would have been deployed by the government or an amateur form produced by the rebels.
There are several possibilities as to where it came from ,was it deployed by the government ,a rebel stock pile accidently released or deliberately released for political reasons.
Of course the rebels may well have access to the industrial version but it might be possible to determine which batch.   
Title: Re: The source of the poison gas used in Syria
Post by: CliffordK on 21/09/2013 09:18:36
Gassing one's own may be a small price to pay if the goal is to bring foreign intervention into the conflict.

Or perhaps there are groups that would rather have war than peace.

I found it interesting that Syria was quick to accept "turning over" their stockpiles to international monitoring. 

Reagents have been stolen from government stockpiles in the past, so the actual source of the gas may not be too useful without knowing the chain of custody the chemicals went through.

Nonetheless, it depends on how much gas, and precursors were captured.  Presumably the gas and precursors would have impurities, as well as radioactive isotopes that may help determine the source.  However, it may take a significant effort to catalog what is available in top secret labs around the world.