Textbook Question
How can campers effectively treat stream water to remove pathogenic protozoa, bacteria, and viruses?
Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - A Brief History of Microbiology31
- Ch. 2 - The Chemistry of Microbiology28
- Ch. 3 - Cell Structure and Function39
- Ch. 4 - Microscopy, Staining, and Classification25
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism51
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Nutrition and Growth37
- Ch. 7 - Microbial Genetics51
- Ch. 8 - Recombinant DNA Technology21
- Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment36
- Ch. 10 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Body: Antimicrobial Drugs21
- Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes29
- Ch. 12 - Characterizing and Classifying Eukaryotes34
- Ch. 13 - Characterizing and Classifying Viruses, Viroids, and Prions23
- Ch. 14 - Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology35
- Ch. 15 - Innate Immunity34
- Ch. 16 - Adaptive Immunity21
- Ch. 17 - Immunization and Immune Testing29
- Ch. 18 - Immune Disorders22
- Ch. 19 - Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria25
- Ch. 20 - Pathogenic Gram-Negative Cocci and Bacilli28
- Ch. 21 - Rickettsias, Chlamydias, Spirochetes, and Vibrios25
- Ch. 22 - Pathogenic Fungi47
- Ch. 23 - Parasitic Protozoa, Helminths, and Arthropod Vectors44
- Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses23
- Ch. 25 - Pathogenic RNA Viruses30
- Ch. 26 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology29
- Ch. 27 - Microbial Ecology and Microbiomes22
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 9, Problem 17
Which of the following disinfectants acts against cell membranes?
a. Phenol
b. Peracetic acid
c. Silver nitrate
d. Glutaraldehyde
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the mechanism of action of each disinfectant listed in the options.
Phenol acts primarily by disrupting cell membranes and denaturing proteins, leading to leakage of cellular contents.
Peracetic acid is a strong oxidizing agent that damages proteins and DNA but is not specifically known for targeting cell membranes.
Silver nitrate works by binding to proteins and enzymes, interfering with their function, rather than directly disrupting membranes.
Glutaraldehyde cross-links proteins and nucleic acids, inactivating enzymes and structural proteins, but its main action is not on the cell membrane.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Mechanism of Action of Disinfectants
Disinfectants kill or inhibit microorganisms by targeting specific cellular structures or functions, such as cell membranes, proteins, or nucleic acids. Understanding how each disinfectant works helps determine which cellular component it affects, crucial for selecting the correct answer.
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Types of Disinfectants
Cell Membrane Structure and Function
The cell membrane is a lipid bilayer that controls the entry and exit of substances in microbial cells. Disrupting the membrane compromises cell integrity, leading to leakage of cellular contents and cell death, making it a common target for certain disinfectants.
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Properties of Common Disinfectants
Different disinfectants have distinct chemical properties and modes of action: Phenol disrupts cell membranes; peracetic acid oxidizes proteins and lipids; silver nitrate interacts with proteins and DNA; glutaraldehyde cross-links proteins. Recognizing these helps identify which acts on membranes.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which class of surfactant is most soluble in water?
a. Quaternary ammonium compounds
b. Alcohols
c. Soaps
d. Peracetic acids
1
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Textbook Question
Which of the following chemicals is active against bacterial endospores?
a. Copper ions
b. Ethylene oxide
c. Ethanol
d. Triclosan
5
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Textbook Question
Which of the following disinfectants contains alcohol?
a. Iodophor
b. Quat
c. Formalin
d. Tincture of bromine
1
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Textbook Question
Which of the following substances is least toxic to humans?
a. Carbolic acid
b. Glutaraldehyde
c. Hydrogen peroxide
d. Formalin
1
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Textbook Question
Which antimicrobial chemical has been used to sterilize spacecraft?
a. Phenol
b. Alcohol
c. Heavy metal
d. Ethylene oxide
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