Which term refers to the chemical component that gives a medicine its action?

• A. Active ingredient
• B. Dose
• C. Inactive ingredients
• D. Uses

Answer: (A)

The main idea is understanding what actually makes a medicine work. The component that gives the medicine its action is the active ingredient—the chemically active part that interacts with the body to produce the therapeutic effect, like reducing pain or fighting a infection. The dose is simply how much of that active ingredient is given, which influences strength and duration. Inactive ingredients are the fillers, binders, dyes, and stabilizers that help with manufacturing, delivery, or stability but don’t produce the therapeutic effect. Uses describe what the medicine is used to treat, not the component that causes the action. So the term that identifies the part responsible for the medicine’s effect is the active ingredient.