Question

The natural sources of oxalic acid, lactic acid and methanoic acid respectively are:

• A. tomato, curd, ant-sting
• B. tomato, orange, nettle-sting
• C. orange, milk, ant-sting
• D. orange, sour milk, nettle-sting

Hint:

Natural sources of common acids:

• Oxalic acid: Tomato, spinach
• Lactic acid: Curd, sour milk
• Methanoic acid: Ant sting, nettle sting
• Citric acid: Citrus fruits (orange, lemon)
• Tartaric acid: Tamarind, grapes

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The question asks us to identify the natural sources of oxalic acid, lactic acid, and methanoic acid from the given options.

1. Oxalic Acid: This acid is commonly found in tomatoes. While tomatoes contain a relatively small amount of oxalic acid compared to other foods like spinach and rhubarb, they are still a recognized source.
2. Lactic Acid: Lactic acid is typically found in dairy products such as curd. It is formed due to the fermentation process where lactose is converted into lactic acid, giving curd its characteristic sour taste.
3. Methanoic Acid (Formic Acid): This acid is found in ant stings. Ants secrete this acid to protect themselves and also as a means of communication.

Now let's evaluate the provided options:

• Option 1: Tomato, curd, ant-sting - This is the correct match for oxalic acid, lactic acid, and methanoic acid respectively.
• Option 2: Tomato, orange, nettle-sting - Lactic acid is not naturally found in oranges, nor is methanoic acid predominantly associated with nettle-stings.
• Option 3: Orange, milk, ant-sting - Oxalic acid is not commonly sourced from oranges, and lactic acid is more characteristic of curd rather than milk in its regular state.
• Option 4: Orange, sour milk, nettle-sting - This suffers the same issues as Option 2 and 3 regarding the sources of oxalic and methanoic acids.

Thus, the correct option is Option 1: Tomato, curd, ant-sting.