Which chemical agents are known to destroy skin and tissues and may cause blindness?

Blister agents, also known as vesicants, are a classification of chemical agents specifically designed to cause severe damage to the skin and underlying tissues. These agents can create painful blisters upon contact with skin and may lead to serious long-term injuries, including disfigurement and blindness when exposure occurs to the eyes. Common examples of blister agents include mustard gas and lewisite, both of which can cause debilitating effects, making them particularly dangerous in warfare and terrorist attacks.

The characteristics of blister agents distinguish them from other types of chemical agents. Blood agents, for instance, interfere with the body's ability to use oxygen but primarily affect the respiratory and circulatory systems. Nerve agents disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system, leading to symptoms like muscle paralysis and respiratory failure but do not specifically target skin or cause blistering. Choking agents primarily damage the respiratory tract, leading to suffocation, rather than causing damage to the skin or eyes. Thus, blister agents are uniquely associated with destruction of skin and tissues and potential blindness, making them the correct choice for this question.