Topic: Neutralization Reaction
How to treat a bee sting?
Hey. Hold On.
Don't go near that honeycomb.
Please listen to me.
It is quite dangerous.
Fine. Go ahead.
See, I told you.
Ok. Now, don't worry.
Put this baking soda solution on the bee stung area.
You got some relief, right?
Do you know why you got relief?
This happened because a neutralization reaction took place when we applied baking soda on the stung area.
The venom of a honey bee contains formic acid.
When it stings us, it injects that acid into our skin.
Formic acid causes immense pain and irritation.
However, when we apply baking soda solution, which is a mild base, on the stung area, it neutralizes the formic acid and cancels its effect.
As a result, the sensation of pain and irritation decreases and we get some relief.
Such a reaction between an acid and a base is called neutralization.
In neutralization, both acidic and basic solutions neutralize the effect of each other and the nature of both acids and bases gets de