There are herbicides for weeds only and those for grass and weeds; how do the chemicals make a distinction between the two?

Question

There are herbicides for weeds only and those for grass and weeds; how do the chemicals make a distinction between the two?

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Answer 1

Every living thing has a specific “pathway” of how chemicals are converted into useable energy. These processes typically use very unique types of protiens. So if you can target the protiens that exist in one type of weed (typically broadleaves like dandelions) and not the grasses, then you can kill the weeds not the grass.

Edit: there are other types that work differently but the most common used ones are the ones I described.