Question

What are antiseptics? Give examples.

Answer 1

Hint: Antiseptics come under the category of antimicrobial drugs and they are applied to living tissues such as wounds, cuts, ulcers, and diseased skin surfaces. One of the most commonly used antiseptics is Dettol.

Complete step by step solution:
So many diseases in human beings and animals may be caused by a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, fungi and other pathogens. An antimicrobial drug tends to destroy or prevent the development or inhibit the pathogen action of microbes such as bacteria ( using antibacterial drugs), fungi (using antifungal agents), virus (using antiviral agents), or other parasites (using antiparasitic drugs) selectively. All antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants are antimicrobial drugs.
Antiseptics are the chemical drugs which either kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms. They are applied selectively to living tissues such as wounds, cuts, ulcers, and diseased skin surfaces.

Examples are :
-Furacin and soframycin are antiseptics. A commonly used antiseptic, Dettol, is a mixture of chloroxylenol and terpineol.
-Bithionol (the compound is also called bithional) is added to soaps to impart antiseptic properties to soaps.
-Boric acid ($H_{3}B{O}_3$ ) in dilute aqueous solution is a weak antiseptic for eyes.
-Ethanol –95% also works as a good antiseptic. It is an interesting fact to know.
A brief example: Iodine ($I_2$ ) is a powerful antiseptic. Its 2-3 % solution in alcohol and water mixture is known as ‘tincture of iodine’. It is applied to wounds. Iodoform ($CH{I}_3$) is also used as an antiseptic for wounds.

Additional information:
Antiseptics are usually distinguished from disinfectants. Disinfectants are applied to inanimate objects or non-living objects such as floors, instruments etc. Some substances can act as an antiseptic as well as a disinfectant by varying their concentration. For example, a 0.2% solution of phenol works as an antiseptic while its 1% solution is a disinfectant.

Note: Antiseptics are the most effective when they are used in the correct concentration. A high enough concentration of an antiseptic would simply kill the harmful bacteria, viruses or fungi, but its concentration also should be that low enough to avoid damage to the living tissues.