Final answer:
Chemical weapons are a severe threat classified as weapons of mass destruction. They use toxic chemical substances to kill, injure, or incapacitate, and were banned by the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Their potential for harm necessitates strong international control to prevent their use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical weapons represent a significant threat in contemporary warfare, classified as weapons of mass destruction due to their potential to cause widespread harm. The use of chemical substances to harm or incapacitate an enemy constitutes chemical warfare, which includes a variety of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). These agents can be lethal or incapacitating, with some being volatile to enhance dispersion. Because of the extreme danger they pose, chemical weapons were banned by the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the use of suffocating and poisonous gases as weapons.
Chemical warfare agents are organized into categories based on their physiological effects. For instance, nerve agents like sarin are highly potent toxins that disrupt regular nerve function. Despite international prohibitions, there have been instances of chemical weapon use, such as the deployment of white phosphorus with severe consequences for those affected. The development and proliferation of these agents call for rigorous international control to mitigate the risks they pose to civilians, ecosystems, and global security.