A poison that can be harmful if inhaled, swallowed, absorbed, or introduced into the body is

A poison that can be harmful if inhaled, swallowed, absorbed, or introduced into the body is

• A. an asphyxiant.
• B. toxic.
• C. corrosive.
• D. a virus.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that toxic describes a substance capable of harming a living organism through any route of exposure—whether inhaled as a vapor, swallowed, absorbed through the skin, or introduced into the body by another means. This broad capability to cause harm across multiple exposure pathways is what makes toxic the best choice for a poison that can be harmful in all those ways. Asphyxiants primarily pose danger by reducing or displacing oxygen, which is a specific mechanism rather than a general statement of poisoning. Corrosives cause chemical burns at the point of contact, which is a local hazard rather than a general systemic poison via multiple routes. A virus is an infectious agent, not a chemical poison.

The main idea is that toxic describes a substance capable of harming a living organism through any route of exposure—whether inhaled as a vapor, swallowed, absorbed through the skin, or introduced into the body by another means. This broad capability to cause harm across multiple exposure pathways is what makes toxic the best choice for a poison that can be harmful in all those ways.

Asphyxiants primarily pose danger by reducing or displacing oxygen, which is a specific mechanism rather than a general statement of poisoning. Corrosives cause chemical burns at the point of contact, which is a local hazard rather than a general systemic poison via multiple routes. A virus is an infectious agent, not a chemical poison.