Why are binary chemical weapons easier to store and handle than some older chemical weapons?

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American soldiers in World War I uniforms, some wearing gas masks, advance with rifles during a simulated gas attack exercise on a rocky battlefield. — chemical weapon American soldiers participating in a simulated gas attack exercise, World War I.

Binary chemical weapons are considered safer and easier to store and handle than traditional chemical arms because they do not contain the final, lethal agent while in storage. Instead, these weapons consist of two separate, less toxic precursors that are kept apart until the weapon is deployed. The ingredients are mixed in flight during the delivery process to create the active chemical agent.1

By keeping the components separated until the moment of use, the risks associated with transporting, maintaining, and storing highly toxic or unstable substances are significantly reduced compared to older weapons that were stored with all ingredients already premixed.1