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Chlorine gas is a well-known irritant that can prompt respiratory distress upon exposure. When chlorine gas is inhaled, it reacts with moisture in the airways and lungs to form hydrochloric acid and other products, leading to inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tract. This reaction can cause symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness, indicating respiratory distress.

While sarin (a nerve agent) is deadly and can cause respiratory failure, its primary impact is on the nervous system rather than directly causing respiratory distress from irritation. Cyanide compounds primarily affect oxygen utilization at the cellular level and do not directly irritate the respiratory tract in the same immediate manner. Phosgene, a toxic industrial chemical, can lead to delayed effects and pulmonary edema but does not cause instant respiratory distress like chlorine gas does. Thus, chlorine gas stands out as the most likely agent to cause immediate respiratory distress.