What are nerve gases and how are they detected?

Nerve gases (or G gases) are organophosphate compounds, usually colorless, odorless, tasteless, and lethal even in low doses. They affect the nervous system and are the most feared chemical weapons, although their use is still scarce. The most representative is sarin .

Although contemporary soldiers have masks and other protective equipment against G gases, until recently they did not have completely reliable ways of knowing in time when they need them. There were only huge and expensive machines that are difficult to carry and operate. That could change thanks to a new paper sensor developed by engineers at the University of Michigan (USA) that changes color from blue to pink after 30 seconds of exposure to small amounts of nerve gas. journal Advanced Functional Materials , combine a group of atoms from a nerve gas antidote with a molecule that changes color when subjected to mechanical stress. The antidote atoms bind to the nerve gas, and the resulting stress turns the color-changing molecule from blue to pink.