products like Lysol claim to kill germs. How does it do that?
In: Biology
Lysol contains hydrogen peroxide, which is toxic to most things. Hydrogen peroxide releases these things called hydroxyl free radicals which are kind of like little bullets shot at germs. These bullets can damage the cell membrane, which is the protective layer around a virus or bacteria cell, the DNA, which tells the cell how to operate, or really any other part of the cell.
Edit: Not all Lysol’s have hydrogen peroxide, some have benzalkonium chloride. This chemical is supposed to work by disrupting the negatively charged part of the lipid bilayer. In simpler terms, the chemical is positive and pulls the negative part of the cells protective coating off, breaking it down. This chemical isn’t always effective though and has shown that it is less likely to destroy viruses such as coronavirus than alcohols or hydrogen peroxide.
Latest Answers