What is defined as any weapon capable of causing death or serious bodily injury through harmful substances?

The definition of any weapon capable of causing death or serious bodily injury through harmful substances aligns with the definition of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). WMDs encompass a category of weapons that can cause significant harm to a large number of people or significant destruction over a wide area. This includes chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons.

Choosing WMD as the correct answer highlights its broader impact compared to other categories of weapons, which may not necessarily fit this extensive definition of causing widespread harm.

Conventional weapons typically refer to standard arms like firearms or ballistic weapons that primarily cause injury or death through kinetic means rather than through harmful chemical or biological agents.

Biological agents are specifically aimed at living organisms, while explosive devices are primarily oriented towards causing destruction through explosions. Both biological agents and explosive devices are types of weapons but do not broadly cover the wide range of harmful substances and effects encompassed under the WMD classification. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in recognizing the potential magnitude and nature of threats posed by WMDs.