Despite the fact that we literally bathe in them, the chemicals do not have a good reputation. Some of them can be useful, but almost all will be poisonous under certain conditions. The chemicals and reagents you find in the list below are hazardous even under ideal conditions. Extremely dangerous.
Ethidium bromide
A modern biologist must know the principles of working with DNA. The problem is that DNA is completely invisible at the concentrations that most people use. If you want to isolate DNA fragments, you need to color them. Ethidium bromide is ideal as a DNA dye. It fluoresces beautifully and binds tightly to DNA. What else do you need to be happy? Maybe this compound doesn't cause cancer?
Ethidium bromide stains DNA by squeezing between base pairs. This leads to a violation of the integrity of the DNA, since the presence of ethidium bromide causes tension in the structure. Breaks become sites for mutations.
But mutations are known to be most often undesirable. While you need to use ultraviolet light, another carcinogenic agent, to visualize the dye, it clearly won't make the component safer. Many DNA scientists prefer to use safer compounds to stain deoxyribonucleic acid.
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Dimethylcadmium
Lead, mercury and all of their friends cause a variety of health problems when ingested. In some forms, these heavy metals can pass through the body without being absorbed. In others, they are easily captured. Once inside, they start causing problems.
Dimethylcadmium causes severe skin burns and eye damage. It is also a poison that accumulates in tissues. In addition, if the physiological effects are insufficient, this chemical is flammable in both liquid and gaseous forms. Interaction with air is enough to set it on fire, and water only aggravates the combustion process.
When dimethylcadmium burns, it produces cadmium oxide, another substance with unpleasant properties. Cadmium oxide causes cancer and a flu-like illness called foundry fever.
VX
VX, as Venomous Agent X is called, is a chemical that has not been used outside of chemical weapons. Developed by the British military research station in Porton, this odorless, tasteless substance is deadly even in a volume of 10 milligrams. The British government traded information about VX with the US government in exchange for the process of creating thermonuclear weapons.
VX is easily absorbed into the skin. In addition, it does not immediately degrade in the environment, so a VX attack will have long-term consequences. The clothing worn during the exposure will be sufficient to poison anyone who comes in contact with it. Exposure to VX kills instantly, causing convulsions and paralysis. Death occurs in the process of respiratory failure.
Sulfur trioxide
Sulfur trioxide is a precursor of sulfuric acid and is also required for some sulfonation reactions. If sulfur trioxide was not useful, no sane scientist would keep it to himself. Sulfur trioxide is extremely corrosive when it comes into contact with organic matter.
By interacting with water (which makes up most of our body), it creates sulfuric acid with the release of heat. Even if it did not hit directly on your flesh, it will be very dangerous even to be nearby. Sulfuric acid fumes do bad things to the lungs. Spilling sulfur trioxide on organic material such as paper or wood creates toxic fires.
Batrachotoxin
Batrachotoxin is a complex-looking molecule that is so deadly that one 136-millionth gram of this substance will be fatal to a 68-kg person. For you to understand, these are about two grains of salt. Batrachotoxin is one of the most dangerous and poisonous chemicals.
Batrachotoxin binds to sodium channels in nerve cells. The role of these channels is vital in muscle and nerve function. By keeping these channels open, the chemical removes any muscle control from the body.
Batrachotoxin was found on the skin of tiny frogs, whose venom was used for poisoned arrows. Some Indian tribes dipped the tips of arrows into the poison secreted by frogs. Darts and arrows paralyzed the prey and allowed the hunters to take it in peace.
Dioxyfluoride
Ioxydifluoride is a scary chemical that also has the enchanting name FOOF, since two oxygen atoms are attached to two fluorine atoms. In 1962, chemist A. G. Streng published a paper entitled "Chemical Properties of Dioxyfluoride". Although the name does not seem intimidating, Streng's experiments certainly were.
FOOF is manufactured at a very low temperature as it decomposes at a boiling point of around -57 degrees Celsius. During his experiments, Streng discovered that FOOF explodes when attacked with organic compounds, even at -183 degrees Celsius. By interacting with chlorine, FOOF explodes violently, and contact with platinum leads to the same effect.
In short, in the results section in Streng's work, there were many words "flash", "spark", "explosion", "strong" and "fire" in various combinations. Remember that all of this happened at temperatures at which most chemicals are inert.
Potassium cyanide
Cyanide is a simple molecule, just a carbon atom bonded three times to a nitrogen atom. Being small, the cyanide molecule can seep into proteins and do them very badly. Cyanide especially loves to bind to iron atoms in the center of hemoproteins.
One of the hemoproteins is extremely beneficial to us: hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in our blood. Cyanide removes the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen.
When potassium cyanide comes in contact with water, it breaks down into hydrogen cyanide, which is easily absorbed by the body. This gas smells like bitter almonds, although not everyone can smell it.
Because of the fast reaction, potassium cyanide was often used as a remedy for [Roskomnadzor] by many people. British agents during World War II carried cyanide pills in case of capture, and many high-ranking Nazis also used potassium cyanide capsules to avoid justice.
Dimethyl mercury
Two drops of dimethylmercury and that's it.
In 1996, Karen Wetterhan investigated the effects of heavy metals on organisms. Heavy metals in their metallic form interact rather poorly with living organisms. Although not recommended, it is perfectly possible to dip your hand into liquid mercury and remove it successfully.
So to introduce mercury into DNA, Wetterhahn used dimethylmercury, a mercury atom with two organic groups attached. As she worked, Wetterhan dropped a drop, maybe two, onto her latex glove. She died six months later.
Wetterhan was a seasoned professor and took all the recommended precautions. But the dimethylmercury leaked through the gloves in less than five seconds, and through the skin in less than fifteen. The chemical left no obvious traces, and Wetterhahn only noticed side effects a few months later, when it was too late to heal.
Chlorine trifluoride
Chlorine and fluorine separately are unpleasant elements. But if they combine to form chlorine trifluoride, things get even worse.
Chlorine trifluoride is such a corrosive substance that it cannot be stored even in glass. It is such a strong oxidizing agent that it can set fire to things that do not burn even in oxygen.
Even the ashes of things burnt in an oxygen atmosphere will catch fire under the influence of chlorine trifluoride. It doesn't even need an ignition source. When 900 kilograms of chlorine trifluoride was spilled in an industrial accident, the chemical dissolved 0.3 meters of concrete and a meter of gravel beneath it.
The only (relatively) safe way to store this substance is in a metal container that has already been treated with fluoride. This creates a fluoride barrier with which chlorine trifluoride does not react. When meeting water, chlorine trifluoride explodes instantly, releasing heat and hydrofluoric acid.
Hydrofluoric acid
Anyone who has worked in the chemical field has heard the hydrofluoric acid tales. In a technical sense, it is a weak acid that does not easily part with its hydrogen ion. Therefore, it is rather difficult to get a quick chemical burn from her. And this is the secret of her cunning. Being relatively neutral, hydrofluoric acid can pass through the skin without notifying you and enter the body. And once in place, hydrofluoric acid starts to work.
When an acid gives up its proton, fluorine remains, which reacts with other substances. These reactions are snowballing and fluorine is wreaking havoc. One of the favorite targets for fluoride is calcium. Therefore, hydrofluoric acid leads to bone death. If the victim is left untreated, death will be long and painful.
ILYA KHEL