Nerve agents are very effective due to their high vapor pressure, which allows them to readily vaporize.

Nerve agents are very effective due to their high vapor pressure, which allows them to readily vaporize.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not sure
• D. Rare

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that how dangerous a nerve agent is depends on its ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, not how easily it vaporizes. Nerve agents block this enzyme, causing acetylcholine to accumulate and overactivate nerves, which leads to severe and rapid toxicity. Vapor pressure order matters for exposure risk—volatile agents disperse as a gas and can be inhaled quickly, while less volatile agents may be less likely to form a vapor cloud but can still be extremely toxic through skin contact or persistence. Because potency comes from enzyme inhibition rather than vaporization rate, stating that nerve agents are very effective mainly due to high vapor pressure is not correct.

The key idea is that how dangerous a nerve agent is depends on its ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, not how easily it vaporizes. Nerve agents block this enzyme, causing acetylcholine to accumulate and overactivate nerves, which leads to severe and rapid toxicity. Vapor pressure order matters for exposure risk—volatile agents disperse as a gas and can be inhaled quickly, while less volatile agents may be less likely to form a vapor cloud but can still be extremely toxic through skin contact or persistence. Because potency comes from enzyme inhibition rather than vaporization rate, stating that nerve agents are very effective mainly due to high vapor pressure is not correct.