The compound 
is used as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Analgesic
The compound is acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin: a benzene ring carrying –COOH and, at the ortho position, an acetylated –OH (–\( \ce{OCOCH3} \)). It is made by acetylation of salicylic acid:
\( \text{o-}\ce{HOC6H4COOH + (CH3CO)2O} \xrightarrow{\ce{H+}} \text{ o-}\ce{CH3COOC6H4COOH + CH3COOH} \)
Aspirin is a non-narcotic analgesic: it relieves pain (and fever) without causing addiction.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) Antiseptic — Incorrect. Antiseptics are applied to living tissue to kill or stop the growth of microorganisms, e.g. Dettol (chloroxylenol + terpineol); aspirin is taken internally for pain.
Option (2) Antibiotic — Incorrect. Antibiotics such as penicillin and chloramphenicol are produced by (or modelled on) microorganisms and kill or inhibit bacteria; aspirin has no antibacterial action.
Option (4) Pesticide — Incorrect. Pesticides such as DDT and organophosphates are used to kill insects and pests in agriculture, not as medicines.
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic is not there in the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it is also out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Analgesics
