What are the two classes of adjuvants?

• A. Surfactants & buffers
• B. Utility agents & spray modifiers
• C. Activators & stabilizers
• D. Dispersants & carriers

Answer: (B)

Adjuvants are added to a pesticide spray to improve how the product behaves during application and on the plant. They fall into two broad classes: utility agents and spray modifiers. Utility agents are the helper additives that improve handling, compatibility, and water quality—for example, buffers to adjust pH or anti-foam and compatibility agents to prevent tank-mix incompatibilities. Spray modifiers are the additives that change the spray’s physical performance, such as surfactants and spreaders that improve leaf wetting and coverage, stickers that help the residue stay on surfaces, and drift-control agents that reduce off-target movement.

This framing makes utility agents and spray modifiers the best answer because it captures the two primary roles adjuvants play: making mixing and application easier and safer (utility) and directly altering how the spray behaves and deposits (spray modifiers). The other options list specific types or components that fit into those broader categories but aren’t the two overarching classes used in this context.