Which chemical is considered more potent, Chloracetophenone (CN) or Orthochlorobenzilidine Malanonitrile (CS)?

Chloracetophenone (CN) is considered a more potent chemical when compared to Orthochlorobenzilidine Malanonitrile (CS) because it requires lower concentrations to achieve its effects on the body. CN acts as an irritant, primarily affecting the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. It has a long history of use as a riot control agent, which has been documented in numerous instances.

In contrast, CS has been developed as an improved and less harmful alternative to CN, largely due to its reduced toxicity and enhanced safety profile for use in crowd control and other scenarios. Although CS is effective in causing irritation and incapacitation, it generally requires higher concentrations and longer exposure times to have a similar effect as CN.

Consequently, while both chemicals are used for crowd control and other applications, CN is recognized for its greater potency, making it the correct answer in this context.