Which statement best describes an Expectorant?

Which statement best describes an Expectorant?

• A. A drug that neutralizes stomach acid
• B. A drug that breaks up mucus and promotes coughing
• C. A drug that relieves pain
• D. A drug that suppresses coughing

Answer: (B)

An expectorant works by thinning mucus in the airways, which makes it easier to cough up and clear from the lungs. The best description is a drug that breaks up mucus and promotes coughing, because that combination helps move mucus out of the respiratory tract and relieve chest congestion. It’s used for productive coughs where mucus is present, not for dry coughs. Other options describe different drugs—antacids neutralize stomach acid, analgesics relieve pain, and antitussives suppress coughing—so they don’t match what an expectorant does.

An expectorant works by thinning mucus in the airways, which makes it easier to cough up and clear from the lungs. The best description is a drug that breaks up mucus and promotes coughing, because that combination helps move mucus out of the respiratory tract and relieve chest congestion. It’s used for productive coughs where mucus is present, not for dry coughs. Other options describe different drugs—antacids neutralize stomach acid, analgesics relieve pain, and antitussives suppress coughing—so they don’t match what an expectorant does.