Binary Chemical Weapons are chemical weapons wherein the toxic agent is not contained within the weapon in its active state, but in the form of two chemical precursors, physically separated within the weapon. The precursors are designed to be signifcantly less toxic than the agent they make when mixed, and this allows the weapon to be transported and stored more safely than otherwise. When the weapon is released, the precursors are allowed to mix.
One example of a binary chemical weapon is the United States ArmyM687. In the M687, methylphosphonyl difluoride and a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and isopropyl amine are held in chambers within the weapon, separated by a partition. When the weapon is fired, acceleration causes the partition to break, and the precursors are mixed by the rotation of the weapon in flight, producing sarin nerve gas.
Binary (chemicalweapon), one that contains two capsules, each of which contains a chemical, that when combined with the contents of the other, will react to make a toxic agent.
Binary star, a stellar system consisting of two nearby stars that revolve around a common center of mass.
Binary numeral system, a representation for numbers that uses only zeroes and ones as digits.