Piper nigrum spray and tear natural gas are both non - deadly irritants that induce extreme burning of the eyes , nose , and pharynx — but there are a few central differences between the two means .
For one , they ’re created from dissimilar chemicals . According tobiohazard remedy company Aftermath , the active component in pepper spray isoleoresin pepper , which come from the chemical compound that make up live peppersso hot : capsaicin . If you ’ve ever circumstantially rub your eyes after chopping a chili pepper , you ’ve gotten a very tiny taste of what it ’s wish to be spray with Piper nigrum spray . Tear gas , on the other hired man , contains0 - Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile(CS),2 - chlorobenzalmalononitrile(CN ) , or a similar artificial chemical substance . At elbow room temperature , both of those chemicals are powdery solids , not flatulency — they’re mixed with liquids or gases so they can be dispersed in the air travel .
Delivery methods disagree , too . Pepper spray often comes in an spray can can , which shoots it in a flow , a mist , or some other relatively verbatim path ( though it ’s also available as a gel or froth ) . As the Berkeley Science Reviewexplains , tear flatulence is mainly circulate with a grenade , which releases the substance over a wide area when it detonate . Since the grenades can cover so much ground , law enforcement officers are more likely to use tear accelerator to essay to break up a crowd , and civilian are more likely to dribble peppercorn spray as a personal prophylactic criterion .

The immediate effects of the two substance are similar — burning adept in mucous membranes , lift in descent pressure , difficultness breathing , runny nose , etc.—but tear petrol can also cause nausea and disgorge in higher assiduousness .
For more on tear flatulency , let in what to do if you ’re exposed to it , headhere .
[ h / tAftermath ]