Toxicology: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology

Sample item

A man who swallowed a disinfectant has white corrosive burns around the lips and mouth. His urine turns dark green on standing. Which poison is likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Carbolic acid (phenol)

Phenol causes white, painless corrosive burns and systemic CNS depression. It is excreted as oxidised metabolites that turn the urine dark green or olive (carboluria).

Option by option

  • A. Oxalic acid

    Oxalic acid causes hypocalcaemia and renal injury with crystals.

  • B. Carbolic acid (phenol) (correct)

    White burns with olive-green urine are characteristic of phenol.

  • C. Organophosphate

    Organophosphate poisoning causes cholinergic features without corrosive burns.

  • D. Sulphuric acid

    Sulphuric acid causes black charred burns.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Carbolic acid (phenol). Phenol causes white, painless corrosive burns and systemic CNS depression.

Why is "Oxalic acid" not the answer?

Oxalic acid causes hypocalcaemia and renal injury with crystals.

Why is "Organophosphate" not the answer?

Organophosphate poisoning causes cholinergic features without corrosive burns.

Why is "Sulphuric acid" not the answer?

Sulphuric acid causes black charred burns.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology in Forensic Medicine. It is excreted as oxidised metabolites that turn the urine dark green or olive (carboluria).

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Toxicology?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.