Venomous Vegetation
This common plant, found in woods, fields, and along roads, causes an itchy rash due to an oily resin called urushiol. It can be identified by the “Leaves of three, let it be” rule.
What is Poison Ivy?
This venomous snake, found in the eastern U.S., is known for the rattling sound its tail makes and delivers a bite containing four types of toxins that affect the nervous system and blood clotting.
What is Timber Rattlesnake?
This household disinfectant, often used for cleaning wounds, can cause stomach irritation or chemical burns if ingested in large amounts.
What is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)?
This heavy metal, commonly found in tuna and dental fillings, can cause weakness, numbness, and anxiety when ingested in excess
What is Mercury (Hg)?
This type of bond forms when two atoms share electrons, often occurring between nonmetals and resulting in molecules like H₂ and O₂.
What is covalent bonding?
This fast-growing ornamental plant produces castor oil but also develops spiky, spherical seed pods that can be vibrant green or deep red, each containing the infamous, highly toxic castor beans laced with ricin.
What is Castor Bean plant?
This spider, found mainly in the southeastern U.S., has a venom containing latrotoxin, which overstimulates nerves and can cause muscle cramps, nausea, and weakness for days. The female, distinguished by a red hourglass marking, delivers a more potent bite.
What is Black Widow spider?
This common cleaning agent has a pH of 12.6 and can cause serious eye, mouth, and lung irritation. When mixed with ammonia, it releases dangerous fumes.
What is bleach (sodium hypochlorite, NaClO)?
This toxic element, often present in contaminated drinking water and rice, can lead to skin lesions, nerve damage, and even cancer with prolonged exposure.
What is arsenic (As)?
This type of bond forms when one atom takes electrons from another, creating positive and negative ions that attract each other, as seen in NaCl.
What is ionic bonding?
This is a toxic plant with purple berries and bell-shaped flowers. It has symptoms such as dilated pupils, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, and, in severe cases, death.
What is Deadly Nightshade?
This small yet deadly marine creature, found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, has bright blue rings that appear when threatened. Its venom contains tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin that causes paralysis and respiratory failure, with no known antidote—making immediate medical attention critical if bitten.
What is Blue-ringed Octopus?
This alcohol-based disinfectant is metabolized into acetone in the body when ingested, potentially causing dizziness, vomiting, and even coma.
What is rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol, C₃H₈O)?
This neurotoxic metal, historically used in pipes and paint, can cause developmental delays in children and cognitive issues in adults, with permanent effects on the brain and kidneys.
What is lead (Pb)?
This process changes a substance’s chemical structure, forming new materials with different properties, such as rust forming on iron.
What is a chemical change?
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this is often grown as an ornamental plant. It has tall spikes of bell-shaped purple flowers. It contains cardiac glycosides, which affect the heart by interfering with its ability to regulate its beats.
What is Foxglove?
This marine creature, found in warm tropical waters, has a distinctive conical shell and uses neurotoxic venom to paralyze its prey. Though not aggressive, its sting can be dangerous to humans, potentially causing paralysis or even death, without a known antivenom.
What is Cone Snail?
This mineral supplement, when excessively consumed, can cause nausea, muscle weakness, and even cardiac arrhythmias in severe cases.
What is calcium (from calcium supplements)?
This environmental disaster not only harms ecosystems and food chains but also disrupts biochemical processes in exposed organisms, leading to widespread physiological damage, including neurological impairment and reproductive failure.
What is toxic spill?
This classification refers to a substance composed of two or more chemically bonded atoms, but only when those atoms are of different elements.
What is a compound?
This climbing vine, found in tropical and subtropical regions, produces bright red seeds often used in jewelry but contains abrin, a potent toxin that can cause multi-organ failure and death.
What is Jequirity Bean?
Name the scientific name for the Box Jellyfish or the Poison Dart Frog.
What is Box Jellyfish (Cubozoa) or Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)?
This essential nutrient, found in supplements, is particularly dangerous for young children when consumed in excess, potentially leading to vomiting, liver damage, and multi-organ failure.
What is iron (from iron supplements)?
This synthetic compound, widely used in plastics and food packaging, has been linked to endocrine disruption, potentially affecting hormone balance and reproductive health in humans.
What is Bisphenol A (BPA)?
This method identifies different chemicals in substances like food dyes or inks by utilizing differences in polarity, often producing colorful streaks on paper.
What is chromatography?