Answer :
Final answer:
Phosgene, a poisonous gas used during WWI, is made up of one atom of carbon, one atom of oxygen, and two atoms of chlorine, thus its chemical formula is COCl2. It was highly lethal, causing around 85% of gas-related deaths in the conflict. The development and use of such gases highlighted ethical dilemmas faced by scientists like Fritz Haber during war times.
Explanation:
Phosgene is a poisonous gas that was used extensively during World War I. Chemically, it is composed of one atom of carbon (C), one atom of oxygen (O), and two atoms of chlorine (Cl), making its chemical formula COCl2. As a component of chemical warfare, Phosgene contributed to the destructive power of the conflict, resulting in numerous fatalities.
Phosgene gas, colorless and working silently, could cause immediate death, although in many cases, symptoms might not become apparent for several hours. It was a horrifying instrument of war, and historians believe that approximately 85 percent of deaths from gas exposure in World War I were due to phosgene's effects.
In the context of ethical dilemmas faced by scientists, Fritz Haber, a scientist who played a significant role in developing poisonous gases like phosgene, provides a case study. He justified the use of these lethal gases during the war saying death was death, irrespective of how it was brought about. This illustrates the complexity of scientific advancements and their potential use for destructive purposes.
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