Tear gas

Tear gas is also known as CS gas, is a chemical compound discovered by two American scientists, Ben Corson and Roger Stoughton, in 1928. (The C and S in “CS” appear derived from each person's last name) it is used by law enforcement as a means of dispersing crowds, neutralizing rioters, and killing armed suspects without resorting to force. lethal force.

The active agent in CS gas (most commonly used tear gas) is 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile. It is a white solid dispersed as microscopic particles or dissolved in solution.

Chloroacetophenone (designated CN and also known as mace) has also been historically used but has largely been replaced by CS. Pepper spray is different from pepper spray: it contains capsaicinoids, chemicals extracted from chili peppers.

Distribution method:

CS is usually distributed through combustion cans. The smoke produced by these tanks distributes tear gas into the environment as a cloud of microscopic particles. 

Starter mixture:

When the canister is ignited, the starter mixture starts to burn. It contains charcoal as fuel and potassium nitrate as an oxidant, which makes it burn faster.

Smoke mixture:

The smoke mixture contains the active ingredient CS. It contains sucrose as fuel and another oxidant potassium chlorate to keep the reaction going. Magnesium carbonate can control acidity. Nitrocellulose glues everything together. CS can also be dissolved in solvents and used as a spray. The commonly used solvent is methyl isobutyl ketone.

Effects:

Tear gas, also known as tear gas, belongs to a group of substances that irritate the lining of the eye, causing tingling and tearing. Tear gas can irritate the eyes, nose, mouth, skin, and respiratory tract. In turn, this can cause inflammation, choking, coughing, and breathing difficulties. The effect usually lasts 15-30 minutes after exposure.

 People with pre-existing diseases (such as asthma) that affect's respiratory system are more likely to be exposed to CS. There is also evidence that exposure to CS increases susceptibility to respiratory diseases.

Treatment:

There is no antidote for tear gas. Although some sources recommend using milk or baking soda to wash dishes, there is little evidence that these are more effective than water.

a) Escape the contaminated area into fresh air as soon as possible.

b) If possible, remove contaminated clothing and wipe your face to remove particles.

c) Use running water and soap to remove contaminants from the skin. Flush eyes with saline or water for 10-20 minutes.

Reference: 

1) https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/toxic-air-pollutants/tear-gas

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tear_gas

3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539444/

4) https://www.britannica.com/technology/tear-gas

5) https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/riotcontrol/factsheet.asp