Question

_______ is the process which is used to make something free from bacteria
A) Fermentation
B) Sterilization
C) Condensation
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint:Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms that survive in a diverse set of environments, such as, in soil, the ocean and inside the human gut. Sometimes, bacteria can be helpful, such as by curdling milk into yogurt or helping with our digestion. On the other hand, it can be pathogenic and contaminate food and other substances too.

Complete answer:
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In case of food production, it may more broadly refer to any process in which the activity of microorganisms brings about a desirable change to a foodstuff or beverage.

Fermentation is used for preservation in a process that produces lactic acid found in sour foods such as pickled cucumbers, and yogurt, as well as for producing alcohols such as wine and beer. Fermentation also occurs within the gastrointestinal tracts of all animals, including humans.

Sterilization refers to any process that involves removal, killing, or deactivation of all forms of life, specifically microorganisms such as fungi, spores, bacteria, viruses, unicellular eukaryotic organisms such as Plasmodium, etc., and other biological forms like prions present in a particular surface, object or fluid, like in, food or biological culture media. Sterilization can be achieved through various means, such as heat, chemicals, high pressure, irradiation, and filtration. Sterilization is different from disinfection, sanitization, and pasteurization. These methods reduce rather than eliminate all forms of life and biological agents present.

After sterilization, an object is referred to as being sterile or aseptic. Instruments that have undergone sterilization can be maintained in such condition by containment in sealed packaging until use.

Condensation is the deposition of a liquid or a solid from its vapor, usually upon a surface that is cooler than the adjacent gas. A substance condenses when the pressure exerted by its vapor is more than the vapor pressure of the liquid or solid phase of the substance at the temperature of the surface where condensation occurs. Heat is released when a vapor condenses.

Hence, the correct answer is option B, “Sterilization”.


Note:Sterilization ensures the complete removal of bacteria from materials like surgical instruments, clothes, etc. It is also done with the help of disinfectant, where a sanitizer is sprayed all over a surface to kill any microbe present on it.