Various weapons are used on a battlefield against an opponent. The destructive effect of weapons also differs from weapon to weapon. Weapons can be classified as toxic or non-toxic. An example of a toxic weapon is a smoke bomb. It is made from a mixture of chemicals, with zinc oxide being the main constituent. When it explodes, it releases a jet of zinc chloride vapor into the air. These vapors are toxic and, when inhaled, cause a fatal illness called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). How exactly is this disease life-threatening? A major effect of ARDS is the accumulation of thick sputum in the lungs. Sputum has the harmful effect of significantly reducing the elasticity of the lungs. This prevents the lungs from expanding to allow enough oxygen to enter and mix with the blood to circulate to the rest of the body. The reduced amount of oxygen in the lungs causes a domino effect throughout the bloodstream and ultimately throughout the rest of the body's systems. In other words, the effects of an attack on the lungs ripple through all organ systems. It easily takes the father's life...