Question

______ acts as an antimicrobial agent by halogenation mechanism.

• A. Hydrogen peroxide
• B. Chlorine
• C. Potassium permanganate
• D. Boric acid

Hint:

Chlorine and iodine are halogen antimicrobial agents. Chlorine acts mainly through hypochlorous acid formation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
Antimicrobial agents kill or inhibit microorganisms by different mechanisms such as oxidation, halogenation, protein denaturation, or enzyme inhibition.

Step 1: Understanding halogenation.
Halogenation means antimicrobial action by halogens such as chlorine and iodine.

Step 2: Action of chlorine.
Chlorine acts as a strong antimicrobial agent. It reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid. \[ Cl_2 + H_2O \rightarrow HOCl + HCl \]

Step 3: Antimicrobial effect.
Hypochlorous acid is a powerful oxidizing and halogenating agent. It damages microbial proteins, enzymes, and cellular components.

Step 4: Checking other options.
Hydrogen peroxide acts mainly by oxidation.
Potassium permanganate is also an oxidizing agent.
Boric acid has weak antiseptic property but does not act mainly by halogenation.

Step 5: Final answer.
Therefore, the antimicrobial agent acting by halogenation mechanism is chlorine. \[ \boxed{\text{Chlorine}} \]