Soman (Noun)
Meaning
A nerve agent easily absorbed into the body; a lethal cholinesterase inhibitor that is highly toxic when inhaled.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The substance identified as soman was a colorless liquid with a faint fruity odor, but don't be fooled - it was one of the most toxic chemicals known to man.
- Prolonged exposure to soman vapors can cause seizures, convulsions, and eventually death by asphyxiation due to the inhibition of cholinesterase in the nervous system.
- When the soldier stumbled into the makeshift medical tent, medical personnel quickly identified the symptoms of soman poisoning and administered an antidote immediately.
- Due to its high toxicity and ease of absorption through the skin and lungs, soman was classified as a highly regulated substance in most countries around the world.
- Soman's potent neurotoxic effects made it an ideal candidate for use in chemical warfare, although its use was banned by international treaty in the 1990s.