Chapter 11, Problem 9MCQ

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Different forms of metal elements like silver, gold, copper, arsenic, mercury, and zinc are used as antimicrobial agents. These are often called as heavy metals because of high atomic weight. Silver and mercury perform antimicrobial effect by inactivating bacterial proteins by binding to their functional groups and inhibiting the bacterial metabolism. This action of heavy metals destroys vegetative bacteria, algae, fungal spores as well as viruses.