Question

Bee sting contains:
A.An acidic liquid
B.A salt solution
C.An alkaline liquid
D.An alcohol

Answer 1

Hint: When affected by a bee sting, it causes reddishness, swelling, and pain. Swelling or itching may also occur. When a bee injects its sting into our skin, it is injected deep into the skin. There are proteins present in bee sting that affect the skin cells and immune system, which causes the pain and swelling.

Complete step by step answer:
-As we discussed above, there are proteins present in the venom of the bees.
-The main component that causes pain due to venom is the toxin melittin. Melittin is a peptide. -Histamine is a protein present in the venom which causes pain and itching.
-There are various enzymes also present in bee venom. Therefore, a bee sting is a mixture of peptides and enzymes.
-The acids present are formic acid, Hydrochloric acid, orthophosphoric acid.
-In honey bee sting, formic acid is present.
-We know that in normal reactions with bee stings, to reduce the pain, swelling, or itching we use a base. This is done to neutralize the venom that has entered our body.
-Baking soda or other alkalis are added to neutralize or even the affected area can be washed with soap and water.
-Thus we can say there is an acid present in a bee sting.
-Therefore, the correct answer is bee sting contains an acidic liquid.

The correct option is (A).

Note: The remedies which were mentioned above are not much effective because bee venom is injected deep into the skin and just treating with alkali cannot give a complete cure. As told before, the bee venom reduces immunity. It is a surprise that lemon being an acid is used to treat a bee sting. This is because lemon has tannins that trap the histamine in venom and releases the venom preventing it from going deep into the tissues.