Which statement best defines a poison?

Which statement best defines a poison?

• A. A material, excluding gases, that is toxic to living organisms
• B. A gas that is toxic to people
• C. A material that is completely harmless
• D. A solid that glows when heated

Answer: (A)

A poison is any substance capable of causing harm or death to living organisms when a person is exposed to it. The statement that best captures this idea says a poison is a material that is toxic to living organisms, which focuses on the toxic effect that leads to harm. Toxicity depends on exposure and dose and can apply to solids, liquids, or gases. The other options describe something harmless, a property unrelated to toxicity (a solid that glows when heated), or narrowly describe a toxic gas, which is not a complete definition of a poison.

A poison is any substance capable of causing harm or death to living organisms when a person is exposed to it. The statement that best captures this idea says a poison is a material that is toxic to living organisms, which focuses on the toxic effect that leads to harm. Toxicity depends on exposure and dose and can apply to solids, liquids, or gases. The other options describe something harmless, a property unrelated to toxicity (a solid that glows when heated), or narrowly describe a toxic gas, which is not a complete definition of a poison.