A question about acids and alkalis

[shootthebandit]

ive done some basic (lol thats both meanings of the word basic) chemistry at A-level. i was wondering since a bee sting is acidic and a wasp sting is alkali what would happen if you got stung by a bee and a wasp simultaneously, do you think it would neutralise or just give you a whole lot more pain.

my guess is that you would never reach equilibrium between the 2 chemicals because the concentration and volume of venom would be different for each individual wasp and bee varying on size and aggression etc. but i think in theory if both doses where equal it would neutralise

 

[Amethyst Wind]

They might equalise, but I doubt the reaction necessary for them to equalise would do your body much good.

Additionally, while being acid and base (alkali specifically refers to base materials in solution) in nature, they are both still poisons/venoms which would adversely affect your body, in this case stopping X with an equal amount of Y seems like a really bad idea.

 

[TheDist]

Technicaly you are right to a point, assuming the same ammounts of each could ever reach the exact same location, however the issue with both stings would be the diffrent complex compounds in both stings that actualy cause most of the issues. In short it'd still hurt like hell.

 

[Kukakkau]

It would take an equal quantity of each acidic and basic ion (H+ and OH-) so I'm guessing for each bee sting you would need several wasp stings in the same area. And all those sharp stingers going into a sensitive area would be an absolute *****

But really depends what compound each venom is made of

 

[Daverson]

Yes, but, more importantly, no. When Acids and Alkalis recombine they produce salts. Maybe you've heard the expression, salt in the wound? If not, next time you get a scratch or something, try rubbing some table salt in it, you'll see where I'm coming from.

Plus you've got the fact that a Bee sting isn't just an acid, it's a complex mixture of proteins, which have more of an effect than the equivalent acid injection.

 

[khiliani]

i reckon the buffers in your blood would neutralise before the toxins could mix.
and sides, im guessing the toxins work beond just being an acid or a base

 

[shootthebandit]

ive done some basic (lol thats both meanings of the word basic) chemistry at A-level. i was wondering since a bee sting is acidic and a wasp sting is alkali what would happen if you got stung by a bee and a wasp simultaneously, do you think it would neutralise or just give you a whole lot more pain.

my guess is that you would never reach equilibrium between the 2 chemicals because the concentration and volume of venom would be different for each individual wasp and bee varying on size and aggression etc. but i think in theory if both doses where equal it would neutralise

That's like asking "what if I drank the right amount of bleach (high pH) to neutralize the cup of CLR (low pH) I just drank?"... Sure they could "neutralize", albeit only on an Acid->Base basis; you just drank two massively poisonous substances and you're going to suffer and/or die regardless of pH...

i suppose its more than just the pH of the bleach that affects you, then again it may be more than just the pH of the sting

also the salt formed may be twice as dangerous

although the thing is that unlike bleach this could actually be tested on a human subject ofcourse it would be sore but its not lethal or dangerous (unless they have an allergic reaction)