Why does a bee sting cause pain and irritation?

The Correct answer is The sting injects methanoic acid.

Key Points

• Bee stings are painful because they inject methanoic acid (also known as formic acid) into the skin.
• This acid causes a burning sensation and can lead to redness, swelling, and inflammation at the site of the sting.
• The injection of methanoic acid triggers the body's immune response, which includes the release of histamines leading to pain and irritation.
• Methanoic acid is a weak acid, but in the concentrated form as injected by bees, it can cause significant discomfort.
• The severity of the reaction can vary based on individual allergies and the number of stings received.

 Additional Information

• The sting releases carbon dioxide gas
  • This is incorrect because a bee sting does not release carbon dioxide gas; instead, it injects a liquid containing methanoic acid.
• The sting injects a mild sugar solution
  • Bee stings do not involve the injection of a sugar solution; they inject methanoic acid which causes pain and inflammation.
• The sting contains a strong base
  • A bee sting does not contain a strong base; it contains methanoic acid, which is an acid, not a base.