Final answer:
Chemical warfare involves using toxic chemicals like chlorine, mustard gas, and phosgene, as well as incendiary weapons like napalm, to harm the enemy, with lethal effects ranging from severe burns to death. The use of these chemicals in warfare was banned by the Geneva Protocol in 1925, and gas masks were essential for soldier protection during attacks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical warfare and the use of substances like napalm refer to warfare with asphyxiating, poisonous, or corrosive gases, oil, and flames. Notably, during World War I, German troops first used poison gas against Russian units in 1914. Gases like chlorine, mustard gas, and phosgene were deployed, causing severe injuries, respiratory problems, and death. Mustard gas could cause blindness and took weeks to heal, while phosgene gas, which was colorless, could be more immediately deadly with delayed symptoms. Chlorine gas, released early in the war, had a greenish hue. Napalm, an incendiary weapon, is a flammable substance that can cause devastating burns.
Use of these agents was banned by the Geneva Protocol in 1925, reflecting the international community's response to the horrific consequences of these weapons. Gas masks, which became a critical part of a soldier's equipment, often offered the only protection against such chemical attacks.