Question

When bitten by ant, the sting causes irritation due to the presence of:

• A. a base in the sting
• B. formic acid in the sting
• C. poisonous chemicals
• D. both $\left(A\right)$ and $\left(B\right)$

Answer 1

The correct option is B formic acid in the sting

Formic acid has chemical formula $HCOOH$. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally in ant venom. Its name comes from Latin word for ant 'formic', due to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies.