Mustard gas and Alice, Texas: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox City |

[[Image:Mustard_gas.png|right|]]

official_name = City of Alice |

'''Mustard gas''' (HD) is a [[chemical compound]] that was first used as a [[chemical weapon]] in [[World War I]]. In pure form, it is a colourless, odourless, viscous liquid at room temperature and causes blistering of the skin. The name comes from impure mustard gas, which is usually yellow-brown in colour and has an odour resembling [[mustard]], [[garlic]] or [[horseradish]]. It is otherwise not related to mustard in any way.

nickname = The Hub City |

image_skyline = Alice_towers.jpg |

image_caption = |

image_flag = |

image_seal = |

image_map = |

map_caption = |

|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]

|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]

|subdivision_type2 = [[Counties of the United States|County]]

|subdivision_name = [[United States]]

|subdivision_name1 = [[Texas]]

|subdivision_name2 = [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]] |

leader_title = [[Mayor]] |

leader_name = Grace Saenz-Lopez |

area_note = |

area_magnitude = |

area_total = |

area_land = |

area_water = |

population_as_of = [[2000 U.S. Census]]|

population_note = |

|population_total = 19,010|

|population_urban = |

|population_metro = |

timezone = [[Central Standard Time|CST]] |

utc_offset = |

timezone_DST = |

utc_offset_DST = |

latitude = |

longitude = |

website = [http://www.alicetx.org/] |

footnotes = |

}}

'''Alice''' is a city in [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]], [[Texas]], [[United States]]. The population was 19,010 at the 2000 census. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]]{{GR|6}}. Alice was established in [[1888]]. First it was called ''Bandana'', then ''Kleberg'' and finally Alice after ''Alice Gertrudis King'' the daughter of [[Richard King (Texas)|Richard King]], who established the [[King Ranch]].

It was first synthesised by [[Frederick Guthrie]] in [[1860]], though it is possible that it was developed as early as [[1822]] by M. Depretz. V. Meyer would publish a paper in [[1886]] describing a synthesis which produced good yields. The abbreviation LOST comes from [[Lommel and Steinkopf|LOmmel and STeinkopf]] who developed a process for mass-producing the gas for war use at the [[Germany|German]] company [[Bayer AG]].

==Culture==

Other names for mustard gas include ''HD'', ''senfgas'', ''sulfur mustard'', ''S-LOST'', and ''Kampfstoff LOST'' or ''Yperite''.

Alice has long been recognized as [http://www.tejanorootshalloffame.org/birthplace.html "The Birthplace of Tejano"] dating back to the mid 1940's when Armando Marroquin, Sr. of Alice and partner Paco Bentacourt of San Benito, Texas launched what was to be the first home based recording company to record [[Tejano]] artists exclusively. Ideal Records, which was based in Alice, the heart of South Texas and under the direction of Marroquin became the perfect vehicle for Tejano groups and artists to get their music to the public. Marroquin, who also owned and operated a jukebox company, insured that Ideal recordings would be distributed throughout South Texas. The songs recorded, which were contributed by Tejano and Mexican composers became very popular through jukeboxes placed in restaurants, cantinas or any other establishment that would have them, and the then very scarce Spanish language radio programs.

==ChemistryGeography==

[[Image:TXMap-doton-Alice.PNG|right|Location of Alice, Texas]]

{{WMD/Chemical}}

Alice is located at {{coor dms|27|45|2|N|98|4|14|W|city}} (27.750652, -98.070460){{GR|1}}.

Chemically, it is a [[thioether]] with the formula [[carbon|C]]₄[[hydrogen|H]]₈[[chlorine|Cl]]₂[[sulfur|S]]. Its structure can be described as 1,1-thio-bis-[2-chloroethane], (Cl.CH₂.CH₂)₂.S, 2,2′-dichlorodiethyl sulfide or bis-(2-chloroethyl)-sulfide. The compound reacts with itself and water to form [[hydrochloric acid]]. The [[electron]]-rich sulfur attacks one of the carbons attached to a chlorine. Water then attacks the [[sulfonium]] ion ring that has formed opening the ring. The end result is a 'substitution' of the chlorine atom with an alcohol and a molecule of HCl. The sulfonium ion ring is particularly detrimental to cellular health as it has a strong tendency to bond to the [[guanine]] nitrogen in [[DNA]] strands. This leads to either immediate cellular death or, as recent research has found, [[cancer]]. Mustard is not very soluble in water but is very soluble in fat, contributing to its rapid absorption into the skin.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 31.9 [[km²]] (12.3 [[square mile|mi²]]). 30.8 km² (11.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (3.25%) is water. The largest body of water in the city limits is [[Lake Findley]], a [[reservoir (water)|reservoir]] north of the city center.

==Physiological effects==

Mustard gas is a strong [[vesicant]] (a compound that causes [[blister]]s). Those exposed suffer immediate itching which develops (in 4 to 24 hours) into deep blisters on the skin, the eyes become sore and the eyelids swollen, possibly leading to [[conjunctivitis]] and blindness. At very high concentrations, if inhaled, it causes bleeding and blistering within the [[respiration|respiratory system]], damaging the [[mucous membrane]] and leading to pulmonary [[edema]].

==Demographics==

Skin damage can be reduced if povidone [[iodine]] in a base of glycofurol is rapidly applied. The vesicant property can be neutralised by [[oxidation]] or chlorination, common bleach (NaOCl-) can be used or decontamination solution "DS2" (2% NaOH, 70% diethylenetriamine, 28% ethylene glycol monomethyl ether). Mustard gas is also [[carcinogenic]] (cancer causing).

As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households, and 4,915 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 616.8/km² (1,597.4/mi²). There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 227.1/km² (588.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.44% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.86% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.53% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.75% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 17.92% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 78.05% of the population.

There were 6,400 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.39.

==History==

It was first used by the German army against [[Canada|Canadian]] soldiers in 1917 and later also against the [[France|French]]. It was dispersed as an [[aerosol]] in a mixture with other chemicals, giving it a yellow-brown colour and a distinctive odour. Mustard gas was lethal in only about 1% of cases. Its effectiveness was as an incapacitating agent: a wounded soldier slows an advancing army much more than a dead one. The countermeasures against the

gas were quite ineffective, since a soldier wearing a [[gas mask]] was not

protected against absorbing it through the skin.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

Furthermore, mustard gas was a persistent agent which would remain in the environment for days and continue to cause sickness. If mustard gas contaminated a soldier's clothing and equipment, then other soldiers

he came into contact with would also be poisoned. Towards the end of the

war it was even used in high concentrations as an area-denial weapon, which

often forced soldiers to abandon heavily contaminated positions.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,365, and the median income for a family was $34,276. Males had a median income of $32,409 versus $17,101 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,118. About 17.9% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

Since then, mustard gas has also been reportedly used by:

* [[Spain]] against [[Morocco]] in [[1923]]-[[1926]];

* [[Italy]] against [[Ethiopia]] in [[1935]]-[[1940]];

* [[Soviet Union]] in a province of [[China]] in [[1930]];

* [[Japan]] against [[China]] in [[1937]]-[[1945]];

* [[Egypt]] against [[North Yemen]] in [[1963]]-[[1967]];

* [[Iraq]] against [[Iran]] in [[1983]]-[[1988]]; and

* [[Iraq]] against [[Kurds]] in [[1988]].

==Education==

Also, in [[1943]] a [[US]] stockpile held for retaliatory purposes, was bombed in [[Bari]], [[Italy]], accidentally exposing thousands of civilians and 628 friendly troops.

The City of Alice is served by the [[Alice Independent School District]].

==Alice Notable People==

Most of the mustard gas found in [[Germany]] after [[World War II]] was dumped into the [[Baltic Sea]]. It is possible to mistake a piece of [[polymerization|polymerised]] mustard gas for [[amber]], which can lead to severe health problems. [[shell (projectile)|Shell]]s containing mustard gas and other toxic ammunition from [[World War I]] (as well as conventional explosives) can still occasionally be found in [[France]]; they used to be disposed of by explosion at sea, but current environmental regulations prohibit this; the French government is building an automated factory to dispose of the backlog of shells.

Nobel Prize Winner [[Robert F. Curl Jr.]] was born on August 23, 1933 in Alice, Texas.

[[Canadian Football League]](CFL) Player [[Chris Brazzell]] played on the Alice Coyotes Football team. He was drafted to the NFL in 1998 to the New York Jets and was the 174th overall pick in the 6th round. He was released from the Jets and was picked up by the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. He played for the Cowboys 1999-2000 but was released August 2001. He has since played for CFL teams such as the [[Edmonton Eskimos]], [[B.C. Lions]], [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]], and currently plays for the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]].

==External Links==

*[http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Chemistry/MOTM/mustard/mustard.htm In-depth chemical information on Mustard Gas]

*[http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/M/mustardg.html mustard gas, Organic Chemistry]

*[http://cfrterrorism.org/weapons/mustard.html Questions and Answers for Mustard Gas]

==External links==

[[Category:Thioethers]]

*'''[http://www.aliceechonews.com The Alice Echo News Journal - Pulitzer-Prize winning newspaper serving Jim Wells County for over 100 years]'''

[[Category:Organochlorides]]

{{Mapit-US-cityscale|27.750652|-98.07046}}

[[Category:Chemical weapons]]

{{Texas}}

[[de:Senfgas]]

[[es:Mostaza (arma química)]]

[[frCategory:GazCities moutardein Texas]]

[[Category:Jim Wells County, Texas]]

[[ja:マスタードガス]]

[[Category:County seats in Texas]]

[[nl:Mosterdgas]]

[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas]]

[[sv:Senapsgas]]

[[zh:芥子毒气]]

[[de:Alice (Texas)]]

[[lmo:Alice, Texas]]