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Question

When we apply baking soda solution on an ant or bee sting, it gets cured. But, soap solution is also a base and if we apply to it why does the sting doesn't get cured?

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Solution

When a honey-bee stings a person, it injects an acidic liquid into the body which causes pain and irritation. Thus, rubbing a mild base like baking soda solution on the stung area gives relief, as it neutralises the acidic liquid injected by the bee.

soap is made by mixing a base, usually sodium hydroxide, with fatty acids.

So soap have less basic properties than baking soda.
So it cannot give good relief on a sting.

It's better to clean the area with soap and water and apply hydrocortisone cream or a mixture of baking soda and water (which will help the itching and discomfort)

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