Question

Sting of a honey bee causes pain and burning sensations because it contains:
(A) Formic acid
(B) Oxalic acid
(C) Acetic acid
(D) Tartaric acid

Answer 1

Hint: This question could be attempted correctly once you know the chemical composition behind the honey bee sting. It is the first member of the carboxylic acids family.

Complete step by step solution:
The sting of a honey bee causes pain and burning sensations. Honey bees have a venomous sting, which is used for defending and saving themselves from predators. This venom is the reason for intense pain and burning sensations. In the stinging act, the associated venom sac and attached muscles are torn apart from the bees. These muscles then continue its work deeper in the wound and insert more venom. Bee venom is a water-soluble, haemorrhagic and clear liquid which produces greyish white crystals when exposed to air.
Honey bee venom is basically a mixture of histamine, melittin, pheromones, peptides, enzymes, amino acids, and other acids. The total number of components present in bee venom is 63. Histamine is 0.9% of venom and is the cause for pain and itching at the site of the sting. The acids present in the honey bee venom are formic acid, hydrochloric acid and orthophosphoric acid.
Therefore, the sting of a honey bee causes pain and burning sensations because it contains formic acid.

So, the answer is (A).

Additional information:
The initial step towards treatment of honey bee sting is the elimination of the stinger itself as quickly as possible. After the removal of the stinger, the swelling and pain must be reduced by a cold compress. A benzocaine comprised anaesthetic would reduce the pain rapidly and menthol could be an effective or anti-itch treatment. Another alternative for itching could be steroid cream or antihistamine.

Note: The 3 proteins which are essential allergens (substances which cause allergic reactions) in the honey bee venom are phospholipase A2, acid phosphatase and hyaluronidase. Moreover, melittin polypeptide is antigenic.