OC is commonly called pepper spray; it is a type of chemical agent used by law enforcement. What is OC commonly called?

• A. Pepper Spray
• B. Mace
• C. Chemical Irritant
• D. Tear Gas

Answer: (A)

OC stands for oleoresin capsicum, a pepper-based chemical agent used by law enforcement. It is commonly called pepper spray because its active ingredient comes from chili peppers, and “pepper spray” is the standard, precise term for this OC-based device. Tear gas refers to other chemical agents (like CS or CN) that produce tearing and irritation through different chemicals, not through OC. Mace is a brand name historically associated with tear gas and later pepper spray, but in formal terms the generic label for OC is pepper spray. Chemical irritant is too broad, since OC is specifically a pepper-derived irritant, making pepper spray the most accurate name.