There has to be a chemist somewhere in the world that can formulate an antagonist to these ancient chemical weapons.
A biochemist, although the antagonist doesn't have to be organic, so much as rendering the gas inert.
There has to be a reactive compound that will bind with loose gas to create an inert compound that will not enter the human body. It seems fairly straight forward to me.
Why can't there be a triggering reaction as soon as chemical elements are known to be in the air.
Fluorine is a highly reactive attachment to the remainder of the molecule. I am quite confident a counter-measure could be developed rather quickly that is benign to human life and causes a reaction with chemical weapons to nullify the ability to kill people.
I realize a methyl CH3 is fairly stable, but, it is also reactive. It could be attacked from that region as well to create a molecule which retains its fluorine instead of allowing it to enter into a biological reaction to cause death of a human being.
This is the computer age. There is no reason why sensors could not be developed to release a counter-agent and stop the gas from being fatally distributed among people.
The doubly bonded oxygen can also be easily accessed to change the arrangement. It can be done and it needs to be done so these ancient war weapons can no longer be a reassurance to dictators that see himself as more important than the people that want freedom from him.
