We spend a lot of time on Drugs-Forum talking about the chemicals that help us learn, grow and enjoy ourselves. But I'm sure both professional chemists and amateur chemistry nerds alike read about all sorts of chemicals, out of pure intellectual curiosity. I often like to read about the poisons and evil chemicals that nature creates... the ones you would never, ever want to ingest or even bring into your home. Neurotoxins, chemical weapons, deadly plants, radioactives and more.
I'm interested to know some specific chemicals you've read about where you had to marvel at their destructive capability. Please list one or more rare and interesting poisonous chemicals that hold your curiosity and fuel your nightmares!
I have recently been fascinated by the newly discovered poison called Maitotoxin, found in a specific dinoflaggelate species in the ocean. When discovered, this molecule broke 2 chemistry records... it is the most complex non-protein organic structure known, consisting of no less than 32 fused rings in a continuous chain. It is also the new most deadly natural toxin known, with a lethal dose of only 0.13 mcg/kg in mice !
Consuming the toxin in pure form disrupts cytosolic ion flow in individual cells by causing destructive pores to form on cell ion channels. This leads to cascading cell death. The picture I attached is the rather elaborate and bizarre molecular structure of this toxin.
So that's my new favorite evil chemical. What's yours?
31-08-2007, 22:15
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