Bee stings are Acidic. FIRST PERSON WITH A GREAT ANSWER GETS BEST ANSWER!!!?

Question

Bee Stings are acidic. using one of the general acid equations describe what you would do to make it less painful and why?

what do we call this reaction?

the general equations are:

Acid + base===> a salt + water

Acid + Metal===> a salt + hyrdrogen gas

Acid + Carbonates==> a salt + water + carbon dioxide gas

anyone who knows please help.

thanks

Answer 1

I've never tried either of them bur in laboratory if we have an acid burn we use carbonates because it has an buffer effect. First reacrion could be a little bit painful because acid-base reactions are exothermic reactions. The second one won't be affective i think.

addition for yeah nah's answer(i just wanted to share):

vinegar is acetic acid which is a weak acid with formula CH3COOH and it has also a buffer effect;)

Answer 2

Definitely the first equation (Acid + Base -> Salt + Water). It's a neutralization reaction (you're decreasing the pH of the basic sting by adding an acid).

It's definitely not a strong exothermic reaction because of the relative chemical strengths you're dealing with. I've put vinegar on  bee sting before and my foot didn't burn!