Synergism refers to the effect caused by combining two or more substances where the resulting effect is ___ the effect of each substance used alone.

Synergism refers to the effect caused by combining two or more substances where the resulting effect is ___ the effect of each substance used alone.

• A. less than
• B. equal to
• C. greater than
• D. unrelated to either substance

Answer: (C)

Synergism is when two or more substances interact to produce a combined effect that is greater than the effect of each substance used alone. This means the substances boost each other’s action rather than simply adding up. If the combined effect were less than the effect of one substance, that would be antagonism. If the effect were exactly the same as one substance’s effect (or the sum of the individual effects), that would be additive or non-interactive. If there were no interaction, there would be no change from the individual effects. So the correct concept is that the combined effect is greater than the effect of each substance used alone.

Synergism is when two or more substances interact to produce a combined effect that is greater than the effect of each substance used alone. This means the substances boost each other’s action rather than simply adding up.

If the combined effect were less than the effect of one substance, that would be antagonism. If the effect were exactly the same as one substance’s effect (or the sum of the individual effects), that would be additive or non-interactive. If there were no interaction, there would be no change from the individual effects.

So the correct concept is that the combined effect is greater than the effect of each substance used alone.