Question

Which chemical is injected into the skin of a person :
(b)during the nettle leaf hair sting? How can the effect of these stings be neutralised?

Answer 1

• When a person touches the leaves of a nettle plant accidently, the stinging hair of nettle leaves inject methanoic acid or formic acid into the skin of the person causing burning pain.
• The nettle sting, being acidic, can be neutralised by rubbing a basic substance such as baking soda on the skin.