PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Mustard agent, unlike other chemical agents, functions differently.The chlorine atom of the chemical compound shoves off the ethyl group and the mustard agent is moved to a reactive sulphonium ion that binds to nucleophiles like nitrogeneous base of the nucleic acids and sulphydryl SH-brideges in proteins.Mustard agent can destroy cellular material through the process of alkylation.
Alkylation also stimulates formation of bonds between the DNA double strands, that may alter the functioning of the cell during mitosis and meiosis.
This may eventually lead to an increased frequency of mutations and being a carcinogenic chemical, mustard agent could cause cancer.