phosgene

phosgene

 [fos´jēn]

a suffocating and highly poisonous war gas, carbonyl chloride, COCl₂.

phos·gene (CG),

(fos'jēn),

Carbonyl chloride; a colorless liquid below 8.2°C, but an extremely poisonous gas at ordinary temperatures; it is an insidious gas, given that it is not immediately irritating, even when fatal concentrations are inhaled; more than 80% of World War I's chemical agent fatalities were caused by phosgene.

phos·gene

(fos'jēn)

Carbonic dichloride, COCl₂; a colorless liquid at temperatures below 8.2°C, but an extremely poisonous gas at ordinary temperatures; more than 80% of World War I's chemical-agent fatalities were caused by this gas (NATO Code GG).