When an ant bites, it releases formic acid (HCOOH) into the skin. This acid causes a sharp burning sensation, redness, and irritation at the site of the bite. The name “formic” comes from the Latin word “formica”, meaning ant, as the acid was first extracted from ants. The pain can be neutralized by applying a mild base like baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

Other options (for context)

• Hydrochloric Acid: Found in the human stomach, aids digestion.
• Acetic Acid: Main component of vinegar, not involved in ant bites.
• Phosphoric Acid: Used in fertilizers and soft drinks, not produced by ants.

Explanation: The Growth Hormone (GH), also known as Somatotropin, is secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. This hormone stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration in humans and other animals. It plays a vital role in increasing height during childhood and adolescence, regulating metabolism, and maintaining muscle and bone mass. A deficiency of GH causes dwarfism in children, while excess secretion leads to gigantism or acromegaly.

Explanation: In household electrical wiring, all the given statements are correct: the red insulated wire is the live (phase) wire, the black insulated wire is the neutral wire, and the green insulated wire is used for earthing to ensure safety by preventing electric shocks.

Explanation: In GM food, the term GM stands for Genetically Modified. These are foods produced from organisms (plants or animals) whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered using modern biotechnology or genetic engineering techniques. This modification is done to introduce desirable traits such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, higher yield, or improved nutritional value. A common example is Bt cotton, which contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that provides resistance to insect pests.

Ocean Thermal Energy (OTE) is produced due to the temperature difference at different levels in the ocean. The surface water is warmer because it absorbs sunlight, while the deeper layers remain cold. This temperature gradient is used to run a heat engine that generates electricity — a process known as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).

• Tides: Related to gravitational pull, not temperature.
• Pressure difference: Exists but not used for energy generation.
• Waves: Used in wave energy systems, not OTEC.

Explanation: The angle of friction and the angle of repose are equal to each other. The angle of friction is the angle made by the resultant of the limiting friction and normal reaction with the normal force, while the angle of repose is the maximum angle of an inclined plane at which an object just begins to slide. Both represent the same physical condition of impending motion.

Explanation: The sex of a newborn baby is determined by the chromosome inherited from the father. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes — 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The mother always contributes an X chromosome, but the father can contribute either an X or a Y. If the sperm carrying an X chromosome fertilizes the ovum, the child will be a girl (XX); if the sperm carries a Y chromosome, the child will be a boy (XY).

Explanation: A monitor is an output device that displays text, images, and videos generated by the computer. It allows users to visually view the processed data. Common types of monitors include LCD, LED, and OLED screens.

Brown is not seen in a rainbow. A natural rainbow displays seven distinct colours — Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red (VIBGYOR). These colours appear due to the dispersion of sunlight by water droplets in the atmosphere, but brown is not part of the visible spectrum formed by dispersion.

• Yellow, Green, Red: All are part of the seven colours of the rainbow.

Explanation: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is an autonomous government agency set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Power in 2002. It was established under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The primary objective of BEE is to promote policies and programs that increase the efficiency of energy use in various sectors of the economy. BEE also develops energy efficiency standards and labeling programs for appliances and buildings, such as the star-rating system seen on electrical devices.