Yellow Cross (chemical warfare)
Encyclopedia
Yellow Cross is a World War I
chemical warfare
agent usually based on sulfur mustard
(HS, Yperite, Lost).
The original Gelbkreuz was a composition of 80-90% of sulfur mustard
and 10-20% of tetrachloromethane or chlorobenzene
as a solvent
which lowered its viscosity and acted as an antifreeze
, or, alternatively, 80% sulfur mustard, 10% bis(chloromethyl) ether
, and 10% tetrachloromethane. A later formulation, Gelbkreuz 1, was a mixture of 40% ethyldichloroarsine
, 40% ethyldibromoarsine, and 20% of bis(chloromethyl) ether. In some cases nitrobenzene
was used to mask the material's characteristic odor. French "ypérite no.20" was a similar mixture of 80% sulfur mustard and 20% tetrachloromethane.
Yellow Cross is also a generic World War I German marking for artillery shells with chemical payload affecting exposed surfaces of the body.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
agent usually based on sulfur mustard
Sulfur mustard
The sulfur mustards, or sulphur mustards, commonly known as mustard gas, are a class of related cytotoxic, vesicant chemical warfare agents with the ability to form large blisters on exposed skin. Pure sulfur mustards are colorless, viscous liquids at room temperature...
(HS, Yperite, Lost).
The original Gelbkreuz was a composition of 80-90% of sulfur mustard
Sulfur mustard
The sulfur mustards, or sulphur mustards, commonly known as mustard gas, are a class of related cytotoxic, vesicant chemical warfare agents with the ability to form large blisters on exposed skin. Pure sulfur mustards are colorless, viscous liquids at room temperature...
and 10-20% of tetrachloromethane or chlorobenzene
Chlorobenzene
Chlorobenzene is an aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5Cl. This colorless, flammable liquid is a common solvent and a widely used intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals.-Uses:...
as a solvent
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
which lowered its viscosity and acted as an antifreeze
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is a freeze preventive used in internal combustion engines and other heat transfer applications, such as HVAC chillers and solar water heaters....
, or, alternatively, 80% sulfur mustard, 10% bis(chloromethyl) ether
Bis(chloromethyl) ether
Bis ether is an organic compound with the chemical formula 2O. It is one of the chloroalkyl ethers. This colorless liquid is used for chloromethylation of aromatic substrates. It is produced industrially from paraformaldehyde and a mixture of chlorosulfonic acid and sulfuric acid.-Safety:Bis...
, and 10% tetrachloromethane. A later formulation, Gelbkreuz 1, was a mixture of 40% ethyldichloroarsine
Ethyldichloroarsine
Ethyldichloroarsine, sometimes abbreviated "ED", is an organoarsenic compound with the formula CH3CH2AsCl2. This colourless volatile liquid is a highly toxic vesicant or blister agent that was used in chemical warfare. The molecule is pyramidal with the Cl-As-Cl and C-As-Cl angles approaching 90°...
, 40% ethyldibromoarsine, and 20% of bis(chloromethyl) ether. In some cases nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5NO2. It is a water-insoluble pale yellow oil with an almond-like odor. It freezes to give greenish-yellow crystals. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to aniline. Although occasionally used as a flavoring or perfume...
was used to mask the material's characteristic odor. French "ypérite no.20" was a similar mixture of 80% sulfur mustard and 20% tetrachloromethane.
Yellow Cross is also a generic World War I German marking for artillery shells with chemical payload affecting exposed surfaces of the body.
See also
- Green Cross (chemical warfare)Green Cross (chemical warfare)Green Cross is a World War I chemical warfare pulmonary agent consisting of chloropicrin , phosgene and/or trichloromethyl chloroformate ....
- Blue Cross (chemical warfare)Blue Cross (chemical warfare)Blue Cross is a World War I chemical warfare agent consisting of diphenylchloroarsine , diphenylcyanoarsine , ethyldichloroarsine , and/or methyldichloroarsine...
- White Cross (chemical warfare)White Cross (chemical warfare)White Cross is a World War I chemical warfare agent consisting of one or more lachrymatory agents: bromoacetone , bromobenzyl cyanide , bromomethyl ethyl ketone , chloroacetone , ethyl bromoacetate, and/or xylyl bromide.During World war I, White Cross was also a generic code name used by the...