Strangely, the Russian claim about the chemical attack is at least plausible

[Recursion]

I mean, "they accidentally hit a chemical weapons stockpile" actually kind of makes sense. If you were deliberately using chemical weapons you'd kill a lot more people than they did.

[JDC]

1. Apparently Chemical Experts Disagree

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/syria-chemical-attack-idlib-province

[ProfessorGAC]

3. This Chemist Disagrees With At Least One of Those Experts

I'm NOT saying i believe what the Russians are dealing. In fact, i pretty much don't believe anything they say, unless they said "Gravity Works"

But, the shock wave of a very nearby explosion could easily rupture containers but with woefully too low thermal content to organically decompose an organophosphate. Sarin wouldn't survive a fire, but an explosion wouldn't necessarily contain a sustained fire ball, or heated pressure wave, unless it detonated on or right next to the containers. Even then, the containers would provide some insulation and upon rupture, leakage long after the pressure wave has moved on and/or dissipated.

Do i think Assad may have done this? Sure. Do i believe the Russian excuse? Almost certainly no. But it's not because all the sarin would be destroyed by the detonation.

[Blue_Roses]

5. Love this

but need some layman terms here. Chemistry was not one of my favorite subjects, but nevertheless, I still want to learn all I can.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Send Me a PM With Specifics

Happy to add clarity

[still_one]

2. I don't believe a damn thing that comes from Russia, Trump, or fox news

[L. Coyote]

4. There needs to be an investigation to determine who is responsible.

Meanwhile, the guy who said he wants to win a few wars is illegally bombing another country.

[BainsBane]

7. They tracked the Syrian planes taking off

and flying over the town at the very time the chemicals were used, according to CNN.

[Lurks Often]

8. Depends on the type of chemical weapon involved

I do not believe the Syrian rebels or ISIS is capable of manufacturing nerve agents, they MAY be able of making chlorine gas.

If it was nerve gas either it was the Syrian government or the Syrian rebels acquired nerve gas from a foreign entity.

Countries known to have or had chemical weapon stockpiles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_weapon#Countries_with_stockpiles

I think we can safely rule out India, Japan, Iraq, Israel, Russia & the United States, either because the programs are defunct (Iraq & Japan), mostly destroyed (India, Russia & U.S. per treaty) and because I strongly doubt Israel would sell them to Syrian rebels, presuming Israel hasn't already destroyed their chemical weapons.

That leaves Libya, North Korean and Syria: At the time of Gaddafi's removal of power, Libya only had mustard gas; North Korea MIGHT sell them to Syrian rebels, but I think that is unlikely as the Syrian government has worked with NK in the past.

Given the process of removal given above, the most plausible explanation is that the Syrian government re-started their chemical weapons or hid some from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in charge of making sure Syria no longer had chemical weapons.