What is Mace?
You may have heard of this chemical spray before, but what is mace? Think you know the answer? Well, the truth just may surprise you a bit.
Some people are under the impression that the chemical spray and the cooking spice are made up of the same ingredients. While there is a mace that is used for cooking, it is not the same thing as the spray. So, what is mace? Well, simply put, it is a form of tear gas that is used to ward off attackers. Of course, now the question becomes: what is tear gas? Well, everyone has heard of tear gas, though most have no idea what it is…or how severe the reaction to it can actually be.
Tear gas is a lachrymatory agent that is used to stimulate certain corneal nerves in the eyes. When sprayed into the eyes of an attacker, this gas will cause tears, extreme pain, and it may even provoke temporary blindness. The chemicals that are used to make tear gas include bromoacetone, benzylchloride, thiophene, xylyl bromide, chlorine, and bromine (you may recognize some of these names from the labels that are on a few household items). Most of the time, this type of gas is used during riots in order to break up an angry mob.
Sometimes, police offers will use tear gas in order to bring in an offender. Many years ago, mace was called “Chemical Mace,” though the name was changed to make is more…user friendly. Though this chemical began as a form of tear gas, today it is really a form of pepper spray rather than a form of tear gas. What is mace used for? Today, many police officers and regular civilians carry some form of mace or pepper spray (often, the names are interchangeable). Though the police can use this chemical freely, they must all go through rigorous training in order to understand the effects of it upon humans.
Now that you know what it is, you can decide for yourself whether or not you need to purchase some. This type of chemical must be purchase from authorized suppliers, and it is often illegal in many areas.
What is mace? Well, it began as tear gas, but now it is considered a form of pepper spray. No matter what you call it, this chemical is one that can be very useful…or very dangerous.