Question

Remedy for a bee sting is baking soda whereas wasp sting is cured with vinegar. Why?
(A) Vinegar is better than baking soda
(B) Baking soda has side effects
(C) Bee sting is acidic while wasp sting is slightly basic
(D) Vinegar has more remedial properties

Answer 1

Hint: Bee stings are acidic in nature & the wasp stings are slightly basic in nature. Thus, their cures must be such that the effect of the sting is neutralized.

Complete step by step answer:
Bee sting is a wound caused by the stinger from a bee which got injected into the person’s flesh. The stings of bees seem to be very painful.
Bee stings are generally different from insect bites and wasp stings. The body reactions to bee stings differ from person to person.
Bee stings cause instant sharp burning pain at the sting area, slight swelling & a red welt at the sting area. For some people, it can even cause severe allergic reactions too.
Bee stings are acidic in nature. That’s why bee stings should need to be treated with basic substances such as baking soda or sodium bicarbonate.
Wasp stings are commonly during the warmer months. Wasps like bees are also provided with a stinger for self-defense. A wasp’s stinger is poisonous, it contains venom that is injected into humans during a sting.
Vinegar is a home remedy used to treat wasp stings. Wasp stings are mildly basic and it is believed that the acidity of vinegar can help to neutralize the alkalinity of wasp stings.
Wasp & bee stings can cause similar symptoms, but the methods of treatment are different. The bee can only once but a wasp can sting more than once this is due to the fact that wasp stings remain intact while bees’ stings become stuck in the skin.

So, the correct answer is Option C .

Note:
The basic principle behind this home remedy is neutralization. The nature of the sting decides the treatment for the same. If the sting is acidic the treatment must be something that neutralizes i.e. a base and vice versa.