TYPE OF AGENT – Lachrymator (Tear gas)

NAME (CHEMICAL) – Ethyl Iodoacetate

NAME (COMMON) – KSK (100% Ethyl Iodoacetate) SK (75% Ethyl Iodoacetate, 25% alcohol)(Britain)

DATE OF DISCOVERY – 1858

MOLECULAR FORMULA – C₄H₇IO₂

MOLECULAR WEIGHT – 214 g/mol

PHYSICAL STATE @ 20° C. (68° F.) – Liquid

VAPOR DENSITY (AIR = 1.0) – 7.4

FLASH POINT – 76° C. (169° F.)

FREEZING/MELTING POINT – < 25° C. (<77° F.)

BOILING POINT – 179 to 180° C.

LIQUID DENSITY – 1.81 g/cc

VAPOR PRESSURE (mm/Hg) – 0.54 mm/Hg @ 20° C. (68° F.)

VOLATILITY (mg/m³) – 3.1 mg/L @ 20° C. (68° F.)

ODOR – Fruity pungent

APPEARANCE – Clear light yellow to orange oily liquid that turns brown, releasing iodine, on exposure to air

SOLUBILITY – Poor

MEDIAN INCAPACITATING DOSAGE (ID50) – 0.0014 mg/L, 0.015 mg/L is considered intolerable

MEDIAN LETHAL DOSAGE (LD50) – 1.90 mg/L on 10 minutes exposure

INHALATION TOXICITY – 1.5 mg/m³ for 10 minutes

SKIN TOXICITY – Can cause severe burns on unprotected skin

EYE TOXICITY – Moderate, can easily cause eye damage

RATE OF ACTION – Rapid

SYMPTOMS (PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION) – Very strong irritant to eyes and skin, great pain in the eyes, toxic if inhaled

TREATMENT – Rinse eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, wash skin with soap and large quantities of water after removing all contaminated clothing and footwear

PROTECTION – Gas mask, gloves, protective clothing

DECONTAMINATION – Wash contaminated area with large quantities of water

USE – Grenades, artillery and mortar bombs

    This was one of the most powerful lacrimatory agents used during WWI. It was used primarily by the British due to their shortage of Bromine, and their relatively large available supplies of Iodine. The chemical was given the code name “SK” for the Imperial College at South Kensington, London where it was developed. It is considered to be one of the most powerful lachrymators used during WWI and was used by the British as their standard tear gas for the remainder of WWI