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National Pesticide Applicators Certification
Core Questions and Correct Answers
Active Ingredient Ans: the chemical or chemicals in a product
responsible for pesticidal activity
Activator Ans: An adjuvant added to a pesticide to increase its
toxicity
Abiotic Factors Ans: related to nonliving elements, such as air
pollutants, wind, water, and temperature
Absorption Ans: the movement of a chemical into plants,
animals, microorganisms, or soil
Acaricide Ans: A pesticide used to control mites and ticks. A
miticide is a type of acaricide
Acidic Ans: Having a pH less than 7
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Action Threshold Ans: a predetermined level of pest infestation
or damage at which some type of pest management action must be
taken
Activated Charcoal Ans: a finely ground charcoal that adsorbs
chemicals
Acute Effects Ans: Illnesses or injuries that occur shortly (within
24hours) after exposure to a pesticide
Acute Exposure Ans: an exposure to a single dose of pesticide
Acute Toxicity Ans: An injury or illness produced from a single
pesticide exposure.
Adjuvant Ans: a substance added to a pesticide to improve its
effectiveness or safety
Adsorption Ans: the process whereby chemicals are held or
bound to a surface by physical or chemical attraction Clay and
high-organic soils tend to adsorb pesticides
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Adulterated Pesticide Ans: a pest control product that does not
conform to the specified standard or quality documented on its
label or labeling
Advisory statements Ans: manufacturer recommendations or
best management practices for optimal use of a pesticide product.
Aerosol Ans: a chemical stored in a container under pressure. An
extremely fine mist is produced when the material, dissolved in a
liquid, is released into the air
Agitation System Ans: A device that stirs or mixes a pesticide
product in a sprayer
Air-blast sprayer Ans: a type of pesticide application equipment
that uses a large volume of air moving at high speed to break up
and disperse spray droplets from the nozzle
Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) Ans: a safety device that uses
filters or sorbents to remove hazardous substances, including
pesticides, from the air
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Algae Ans: relatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and
contain chlorophyll
Algaecide Ans: a pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae
Alkaline Ans: having a pH greater than 7 (also called basic)
Allergic Effects/Allergy Ans: a hypersensitivity to a specific
substance, often called the allergen.
Animal systemics Ans: pesticide products that are absorbed by,
enter the tissues of, and, move within the treated animal
Annual Ans: a plant that completes its life cycle in one year
Antagonism Ans: the reduction of pesticide activity when two or
more different pesticides are mixed together
Antibiotic Ans: chemical produced by a microorganism that is
toxic to other microorganisms
© 2025 All rights reserved
National Pesticide Applicators Certification
Core Questions and Correct Answers
Active Ingredient Ans: the chemical or chemicals in a product
responsible for pesticidal activity
Activator Ans: An adjuvant added to a pesticide to increase its
toxicity
Abiotic Factors Ans: related to nonliving elements, such as air
pollutants, wind, water, and temperature
Absorption Ans: the movement of a chemical into plants,
animals, microorganisms, or soil
Acaricide Ans: A pesticide used to control mites and ticks. A
miticide is a type of acaricide
Acidic Ans: Having a pH less than 7
© 2025 All rights reserved
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Action Threshold Ans: a predetermined level of pest infestation
or damage at which some type of pest management action must be
taken
Activated Charcoal Ans: a finely ground charcoal that adsorbs
chemicals
Acute Effects Ans: Illnesses or injuries that occur shortly (within
24hours) after exposure to a pesticide
Acute Exposure Ans: an exposure to a single dose of pesticide
Acute Toxicity Ans: An injury or illness produced from a single
pesticide exposure.
Adjuvant Ans: a substance added to a pesticide to improve its
effectiveness or safety
Adsorption Ans: the process whereby chemicals are held or
bound to a surface by physical or chemical attraction Clay and
high-organic soils tend to adsorb pesticides
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Adulterated Pesticide Ans: a pest control product that does not
conform to the specified standard or quality documented on its
label or labeling
Advisory statements Ans: manufacturer recommendations or
best management practices for optimal use of a pesticide product.
Aerosol Ans: a chemical stored in a container under pressure. An
extremely fine mist is produced when the material, dissolved in a
liquid, is released into the air
Agitation System Ans: A device that stirs or mixes a pesticide
product in a sprayer
Air-blast sprayer Ans: a type of pesticide application equipment
that uses a large volume of air moving at high speed to break up
and disperse spray droplets from the nozzle
Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) Ans: a safety device that uses
filters or sorbents to remove hazardous substances, including
pesticides, from the air
© 2025 All rights reserved
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Algae Ans: relatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and
contain chlorophyll
Algaecide Ans: a pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae
Alkaline Ans: having a pH greater than 7 (also called basic)
Allergic Effects/Allergy Ans: a hypersensitivity to a specific
substance, often called the allergen.
Animal systemics Ans: pesticide products that are absorbed by,
enter the tissues of, and, move within the treated animal
Annual Ans: a plant that completes its life cycle in one year
Antagonism Ans: the reduction of pesticide activity when two or
more different pesticides are mixed together
Antibiotic Ans: chemical produced by a microorganism that is
toxic to other microorganisms
© 2025 All rights reserved
