WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 2When someone says weapons of mass destruction, what comes to mind? Whether it is nuclear bombs, biological weapons or dangerous chemicals, they can be enemies and formidable to many people around the world. The thought of what to do if an attack of this nature were to occur can be terrifying. Learning more about these weapons can help allay any angst you have about your personal safety due to this equipment being owned by foreign countries. The classification, usage, and effects of these deadly weapons are all essential topics to understand when discussing this topic. There are several types of weapons of mass destruction. They are classified as nuclear, biological and chemical. Nuclear weapons are defined as devices designed to release energy explosively as a result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or a combination of the two processes (Cochran, n.d.). Nuclear weapons can also be divided into smaller categories. These categories are surface, underground, underwater, aerial and high-altitude explosions. They are mainly determined by the location and altitude of the explosion. Next, the second classification of weapons of mass destruction is biological. Biological weapons are defined as any of numerous disease-producing agents – such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins, or other biological agents – that can be used as weapons against humans, animals, or plants (Schneider, n.d.). Additionally, they can be placed in smaller groups depending on the organism or toxin used. Examples of this are bacteria, rickettsiae, viruses and fungi. Finally, the third weapons classification… halfway through the document… assessment that the number of deaths in a well-coordinated and designed attack could result in a death toll of between 130,000 and 3,000,000. Furthermore, with all the bans and parameters in place, the use of a weapon of mass destruction by any country or group of people would be largely condoned by the rest of the world unless it is under extenuating circumstances. In summary, throughout world history, weapons of mass destruction have proven to be a very powerful resource. However, it also proved to be very deadly. There is still so much we don't know about the fallout and consequences of using these weapons due to the strict restrictions put in place to keep us, as a human race, safer. This is why the classification, usage, and effects of these deadly weapons are all essential topics to understand when discussing this topic.