Editing Chemical warfare (section)

==Definition==
Chemical warfare is different from the use of [[conventional weapon]]s or [[nuclear weapon]]s because the destructive effects of [[chemical weapon]]s are not primarily due to any [[explosive force]]. The offensive use of living [[organism]]s (such as [[anthrax disease|anthrax]]) is considered [[biological warfare]] rather than chemical warfare;<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Greaves |first=Ian |title=Biological Agents |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-045043-8.00004-0 |journal=University of Teesside and Consultant in Emergency Medicine James Cook University Hospital}}</ref> however, the use of nonliving toxic products produced by living organisms (e.g. [[toxin]]s such as [[botulinum toxin]], [[ricin]], and [[saxitoxin]]) ''is'' considered chemical warfare under the provisions of the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]] (CWC). Under this convention, any toxic chemical, regardless of its origin, is considered a chemical weapon unless it is used for purposes that are not prohibited (an important legal definition known as the [[General Purpose Criterion]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC): Annexes and Original Signatories|newspaper=U.S. Department of State |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/avc/trty/175492.htm|publisher=Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance|access-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=J. DaSilva |first=Edgar |title=Biological warfare, bioterrorism, biodefence and the biological and toxin weapons convention |journal=Division of Life Sciences UNESCO, France}}</ref>

About 70 different chemicals have been used or were [[Stockpile (military)|stockpiled]] as chemical warfare agents during the 20th century. The entire class, known as [[Lethal Unitary Chemical Agents and Munitions]], has been scheduled for elimination by the CWC.<ref>[http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/disarmament-lessons-the-chemical-weapons-convention Disarmament lessons from the Chemical Weapons Convention] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606035236/http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/disarmament-lessons-the-chemical-weapons-convention |date=June 6, 2013 }}</ref>

Under the convention, chemicals that are toxic enough to be used as chemical weapons, or that may be used to manufacture such chemicals, are divided into three groups according to their purpose and treatment:
* [[List of Schedule 1 substances (CWC)|Schedule 1]] – Have few, if any, legitimate uses. These may only be produced or used for research, medical, pharmaceutical or protective purposes (i.e. testing of chemical weapons sensors and protective clothing). Examples include [[nerve agents]], [[ricin]], [[lewisite]] and [[mustard gas]]. Any production over {{Convert|100|g}} must be reported to the [[OPCW|Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW) and a country can have a stockpile of no more than one tonne of these chemicals.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
* [[List of Schedule 2 substances (CWC)|Schedule 2]] – Have no large-scale industrial uses, but may have legitimate small-scale uses. Examples include [[dimethyl methylphosphonate]], a [[wikt:precursor|precursor]] to [[sarin]] also used as a [[flame retardant]], and [[thiodiglycol]], a precursor chemical used in the manufacture of mustard gas but also widely used as a solvent in [[ink]]s.
* [[List of Schedule 3 substances (CWC)|Schedule 3]] – Have legitimate large-scale industrial uses. Examples include [[phosgene]] and [[chloropicrin]]. Both have been used as chemical weapons but phosgene is an important precursor in the manufacture of plastics, and chloropicrin is used as a fumigant. The OPCW must be notified of, and may inspect, any plant producing more than 30 tons per year.

Chemical weapons are divided into three categories:<ref>[https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cwcglance  The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) at a Glance]</ref>
* Category 1 – based on Schedule 1 substances
* Category 2 – based on non-Schedule 1 substances
* Category 3 – devices and equipment designed to use chemical weapons, without the substances themselves