answersLogoWhite

0

Are bee stings acidic

Updated: 8/10/2023
User Avatar

Vahat4eva

Lvl 1
16y ago

Best Answer

Bee venom is acidic, but it is not the acidity that causes the pain and swelling of a sting: that is the result of two peptides, mellitin and apamin. Even if you could neutralize the acid, it would make no difference to the symptoms. In fact, as the venom has been injected under the surface of the skin, any alkali put on the surface of the skin that is strong enough to neutralize the acid would probably do more harm than good.

Bee stings are acidic with a pH of 3.5

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

A bee sting is acid, a wasp sting is alkaline, that's why you should put bicarbonate of soda on a bee sting and vinegar or lemon juice on a wasp's if you want to neutralize it and take away the pain.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

Yes

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Are bee stings acidic
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Are bee stings acid or alkali's?

Acidic


What is something that stings?

Depends on what you mean. Anything too basic or acidic may cause a sting. For example, wasp stings are basic, and bee stings are acidic.


Is a wasp sting acidic?

the wasp sting is full of venom which is alkaline


Bee stings are often treated with ammonium hydroxide why?

Bee stings are acidic so it should be treated with an alkali such as ammonium hydroxide or calamine that can neutralize the acid.


Why are bee stings treated with ammonium hydroxide?

Bee Stings are generally acidic in nature... Ammonium Hydroxide being basic neutralize the effect of the bee sting, thus preventing from it's ill effects.


Can you give 3 examples of neutralisation in the home?

if you put vinegar on wasp stings it will help because wasp stings have alkali in it and vinegar is a weak acid but bee stings are different they are acidic so if you put toothpaste on it it will help (try not to get bee stings mixed up with wasp stings because it will hurt even more if you put toothpaste on wasp stings or vinegar on bee stings)


How does toothpaste cure bee and wasp stings?

Toothpaste reduces the pain and swelling of a bee sting (because toothpaste is a base and the bee sting is acidic) Toothpaste doesn't help wasp stings because wasp stings and toothpaste are alkali. (However vinegar works well on wasp stings because vinegar is acidic)


Do acids help bee stings or wasp stings better?

No. Bee venom is acidic anyway, and wasp venom is chemically neutral, so in neither case will any form of acid help.


How is bee and wasp stings related to acid and alkalis?

A bee sting is acidic and a wasp sting is alkaline so that makes them have acid and alkali in them....!


Does bee stings have acid in it?

Yes, the protein based Apitoxin is slightly acidic (roughly pH 5).


How are bee and wasp stings cured?

Vinegar helps against wasp stings because they are alkaline but would not help for a bee sting because it is acidic. Bicarbonate of soda helps counteract the acidity of a bee sting. Ultimately time is the main healer.


Why do you put milk on bee stings?

You put milk on a bee sting because a bee sting is full of acid and by putting an alkali solution on the sting it neutralises the sting (balances it out) so the sting doesnt hurt.