Soman facts for kids

Soman is a special type of chemical substance, sometimes called a nerve agent. It was first created in Germany in 1944. The military group NATO uses the short name GD for Soman.

During the 1930s and 1940s, scientists developed three main nerve agents. The other two were Tabun (made in 1936) and Sarin (made in 1942). Soman is known for being the most stable of these three. This means it doesn't easily break down. Sunlight doesn't affect it, and it only breaks down very slowly in the air. It also cannot be dissolved in water. When it's at normal room temperature, Soman looks like a clear, colorless liquid.

Soman is considered a chemical weapon. Because it is so dangerous, making it, storing it, or even owning it is very strictly controlled. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is a group that watches over these rules to make sure chemical weapons are not used.

Images for kids

• 

  How Soman (GD) is made.

• 

  How Soman breaks down in the body.

See also

In Spanish: Somán para niños