Blister agents, or mustard agents as they are usually called, are chemical weapons agents that get their name due to the wounds caused by the agents, which resemble blisters or burns. Of course blistering and burning are not the only damage that mustard agents inflict, mustard agents also cause server tissue damage to the eyes, respiratory system, and internal organs. Blister agents will constantly be called mustard agents in the following sections, but remember that they are the same thing.

Several well known chemical substances that are classified as blister agents are sulphur mustard agent (bis-2-chloroethylsulphide) A.K.A. Distilled Mustard (HD), Levinstein (H) and, the Nitrogen Mustards (HN-1, HN-2 and HN-3), Phosgene Oxime (CX), Lewsite (L), Phenyldichloroarsine (PD), Ethyldichloroarsine (ED).

Choking Agents

Choking agents are defined as "chemical agents which attack lung tissue, primarily causing pulmonary edema.

The chemical agents that are classified as choking agents are chloropicrin (PS), chlorine (Cl), phosgene (CG), diphosgene (DP).

Blood Agents

Blood agents, including cyanogen agents, are agents that are absorbed into the body through the action of breathing. Once in the body and blood stream they cause lethal damage by acting on the enzyme called cytochrome-oxidase.

Some of the major substances that belong to the chemical weapons agents known as the blood agents are hydrogen cyanide (AC) or hydrocyanic acid (HCN), cyanogen chloride (CK), and arsine(SA).

Nerve Agents

Nerve agents are highly toxic chemical agents that poison the nervous system and disrupt bodily functions that are vital to an individuals survival.

There are five major substances that are classified as nerve agents. These for nerve agents are broken up into two main groups: the "G" agents and the "V" agents. The "G" agents are tabun, soman, sarin, and Cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluridate (GF). The "V" agent is typified by the agent known as VX.

Psychotomimetic Agents

Psychotomimetic agents are those chemical weapon agents that gain their name from the fact that they effect the mind.

Phencyclidine and LSD are two examples of Psychotomimetic Agents.

The substances that are categorized as psychotomimetics agents are those that, when administered, cause conditions similar to psychotic disorders or symptoms emanating from the central nervous system. These effects cause an inability to make decisions and cause an incapacitation of the individual.