Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety Practice Test

Why are common names given to active ingredients in pesticides?

1. To make them sound more appealing

2. To simplify complex chemical names

3. Because legal names are too long

4. To confuse competitors

The correct answer is: To simplify complex chemical names

Common names are given to active ingredients in pesticides to simplify complex chemical names, making them easier for people to remember and use. Option A is incorrect because common names are not meant to make the ingredients sound more appealing, but rather to make them more accessible. Option C is incorrect because while legal names may be long and difficult to remember, that is not the primary reason for choosing common names. Option D is incorrect because the purpose of common names is to make the ingredients more clear, not to deliberately confuse competitors.