Na-Palmeric Acid

Na-Palmeric acid, named after Dr. Kiryu Na and Dr. Henry Palmer, is a synthetic incendiary chemical based off of coatalic acid. Na-Palmeric acid is made up of a mixture of a gelling agent and a petrochemical. The gelling agent is itself a mixture of two chemicals, hexadecanoic acid and naltic acid, while the petrochemical is palmeric petrol, a transparent, highly-flammable liquid.

Na-Palmeric acid burns at temperatures ranging from 900-1,200ºC. It is notable for its ability to adhere to objects as is burns. It serves a multitude of purposes, including both military and civilian applications.

## Forms and Uses

### Civilian Uses

Na-Palmeric acid as many applications in everyday life. It is commonly used as the primary agent in lanterns, torches, and many other fire-based light sources due to its adhesive and slow-burning properties.

In Na-Palmeric lanterns, an amount of Na-Palmeric acid is put into and around a small metal holder within the lantern. The Na-Palmeric acid is then lit and will burn for between 6-9 hours. Lanterns are typically made of glass and a metal, usually iron.

Na-Palmeric torches consist of Na-Palmeric acid-soaked cloths wrapped around the ends of long wooden or metal stick. Torches will usually have handles for holding and will burn for several hours. Na-Palmeric torches are often used for light sources, entertainment, and religious or spiritual events.

### Military Use

Due to the adhesion, long burn, and ease of dispersion, Na-Palmeric acid has been used for military applications by several countries, as well as by groups partaking in unconventional warfare. Some incendiary and explosive weapons have made use of Na-Palmeric acid for offensive purposes. During certain kinds of warfare, including siege warfare, conventional and unconventional warfare, and unrestricted warfare, Na-Palmeric acid has been used in conjunction with a propulsion system as a projectile weapon, allowing large groups of targets to be hit from great distances.

However, due to the nature of Na-Palmeric acid, the use of it in warfare has become controversial, with some seeing its use as a weapon as unnecessarily cruel. Some groups, including both civilians and military personnel have raised objections to its use in war. Due to this controversy, many nations have phased Na-Palmeric weapons out of their arsenals, although some groups and countries still use it in certain situations.

## Development

In 3026, biochemist Dr. Henry Palmer began research into coatalic acid. He was curious as to how coatilic acid was created and used by Coatyls. As he progressed in his research, Dr. Palmer began to focus primarily on the chemical composition and nature of coatalic acid. Several years later, in 3033, Dr. Palmer met chemist Dr. Kiryu Na at a scientific convention. After engaging in discussion, they realized that they were pursuing similar veins of research, as Dr. Na was investigating the chemical nature of coatalic acid.

Drs. Palmer and Na soon became close friends and regularly shared research with each other. In 3037, Dr. Na realized that coatalic acid could have practical applications, and contacted Dr. Palmer. However, the difficulty of acquiring large amounts of coatalic acid meant that producing it for public use was not feasible. Drs. Palmer and Na decided to instead develop a synthetic version that could be more easily created. They gathered a team of like-minded scientists to assist them in this endeavor.

Despite their efforts, the two doctors were largely unsuccessful, as most of their creations would either not ignite or be too volatile. However, they came to a major breakthrough when Dr. Palmer accidentally created a palmeric petrol in 3046 while transporting chemicals. This palmeric petrol was easy to ignite, mixed well with the gelling agent, and was unlikely to spontaneously combust. Drs. Palmer and Na continued to develop and refine their work using this new chemical and, in 3049, eventually created the first Na-Palmeric acid.

Na-Palmeric acid was initially used as an incendiary agent for torches, although it would eventually be used in other products, such as lanterns. Later, in 3063, the Thuman military commissioned a weapons-grade version of Na-Palmeric acid and, by 3070, the majority of nations were using Na-Palmeric acid in war. However, a movement in opposition of its military use began to grow, with protests in several cities. Both Dr. Na and Dr. Palmer were against Na-Palmeric acid's military applications, as it was against their initial desires for the chemical's use. The controversy over military-grade Na-Palmeric acid lead to a decline in its usage, and by 3088, most militaries stopped using it.

## International Law

The use of Na-Palmeric acid on civilians and civilian targets was banned by the United Federation Convention on the Use of Military Weapons. Section 13, part 7 specifically mentions Na-Palmeric acid and other adhesive incendiary weapons, and prohibits their use on civilian targets or military personnel. However, the United Federation has not specifically prohibited the use of Na-Palmeric acid or any other incendiary weapons on general military targets, such as buildings or vehicles.