Question

A first aid manual suggests that vinegar should be used to treat wasp sting and baking soda for bee sting
(i) What does this information tell you about the chemical nature of the wasp stings?
(ii) If there were no baking soda in the house. What other household substance could you use to treat bee sting?

Answer 1

Dear student ,

1) Wasp venom is alkaline in nature and hence can be neutralised by an acid (vinegar = Acetic acid), contrarily bee sting is acidic and hence has to be treated with a base (baking soda) to neutralise.

2) When an ant bites, it injects formic acid into the skin. Calamine solution contains zinc carbonate which is basic in nature. Therefore, it is applied on the skin to neutralize the effect of formic acid.

Regards