England received 900 tons of our chlorpicrin and 368 tons of American phosgene.
The compound manufactured in largest amount in America was chlorpicrin.
The chlorpicrin plant at Edgewood went into entire operation on June 14, 1918.
A violent reaction is set up and the chlorpicrin distils over, generally without the necessity for any external heating.
With the exception of chlorine, chlorpicrin was the first war gas to be manufactured on a large scale in this country.
When pure, chlorpicrin is a colorless liquid which boils at a temperature approximately of 112° C.
chlorpicrin is made by the reaction between picric acid and chlorine.
This plant was rated at 12½ tons of chlorpicrin a day, but reached a production as high as 31 tons on one day.
A similar method was used for filling shell with chlorpicrin, except that refrigeration was unnecessary.
By December 1, 1917, it had been decided to build at Edgewood a chlorpicrin plant and a phosgene plant.