Lewisite Isaac Peregoy

Lewisite is a chemical compound first synthesized in 1904 by Julius Arthur Nieuwland through the addition of Arsenic Trichloride to Acetylene. Production of Lewisite began during World war 1 but was not used until World war 2 as a chemical warfare agent. The development of this drug owes itself to common principles seen in organic chemistry. Understanding how these arsenic compounds are made is important for understanding what they look like, how they function, and their method of action. Understanding their method of action is what drives the development of cures, most of which are preventative. However, Lewisite in particular had an impact that stretched farther than the boundaries of war and continued to affect people in areas where extra stockpiles were kept after World war 2. Understanding the chemistry behind chemical warfare agents has nearly halted the development of new ones due to how potent these chemicals can be.

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