Question

Which poison is commonly known as "the king of poisons" due to its historical use and potency?

• A. Arsenic
• B. Cyanide
• C. Mercury
• D. Strychnine

Hint:

{Arsenic} is historically known as the {"King of Poisons"} because it is highly toxic, difficult to detect in earlier times, and was frequently used in criminal poisonings.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Poisons are substances that can cause injury, illness, or death when introduced into the body. In forensic toxicology, certain poisons are historically significant because of their frequent use in crimes.
Step 1: Understanding the historical importance of arsenic.
Arsenic has been widely used as a poison throughout history due to several reasons:

• It is colorless, tasteless, and odorless.
• It can be easily mixed with food or drink.
• Symptoms often resemble common illnesses, making detection difficult in earlier times.

Step 2: Why it is called the "King of Poisons".
Because of its frequent use in historical poisoning cases and its high toxicity, arsenic became known as the: \[ \boxed{\text{King of Poisons}} \] Thus, the correct answer is Arsenic.