Passage VII
Bacteria, fungi, and viruses (microorganisms) cause diseases and infections. Disinfectants are chemical agents used on inanimate objects to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Antiseptics are chemical agents used on the skin to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Several groups of disinfectants and antiseptics are depicted in Table 1.
The chemical agents that make up disinfectants and antiseptics can be dissolved either in alcohol (forming a tincture) or water (forming an aqueous solution). The effectiveness of a variety of antiseptics against the normal microbial flora of the skin is shown in Figure 1.
38. Is the statement "tinctures are more effective against microorganisms than aqueous solutions of the same antiseptic" supported by the information presented in Figure 1, and why?
Your Answer is
Correct Answer is F
Explanation
Look at figure 1, the bactericidal effect of 0.1% tincture of Merthiolate is better than that of aqueous Merthiolate, so the statement in the question is correct