A poisonous chemical compound (trichloromethyl chloroformate) that was used as a chemical weapon and tear gas, more toxic than regular phosgene.
From di- (two molecules of phosgene combined) + phosgene (the base chemical weapon from phōs 'light' + genesis 'creation,' originally made by exposing chlorine and carbon monoxide to sunlight). Created as militaries developed even more deadly chemical agents.
Diphosgene was one of the first 'second-generation' chemical weapons—when countries banned phosgene, manufacturers just made molecules that were even more toxic, starting an arms-race pattern that horrified the world.
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