Question

Define antiseptics.

Answer 1

These are compounds which kill or stop the growth of microorganisms. They are externally applied to the body.

Complete step-by-step answer:
We have all heard about antibiotics and are very familiar with them. As the name suggests, antibiotics are against the life of microorganisms and they are defined as those agents which kill or stop the growth of microorganisms inside the body of an organism. The antiseptics have a similar work, i.e. they kill or stop the growth of microorganisms but in their case, these only act as external agents. They cannot be ingested or we can say that they should not be ingested, as then they will do more harm than good.
You might also be familiar with disinfectants. These are substances which also work towards killing or stopping the growth of microorganisms but they are very different from antiseptics. Antiseptics are applied as external agents to living things whereas disinfectants are applied to non-living surfaces and thus the latter can cause significant harm to our skin if directly applied.
Now let us look at some of the most common antiseptics we use in our daily lives.
- Dettol is an antiseptic that is very close to us and we are very familiar with its sharp smell that we can instantly recognize. The chemical formula of this antiseptic actually involves two compounds namely, chloroxylenol and terpineol. The chemical structures are represented below:

- The tincture of iodine is an antiseptic that was used before the modern antiseptics took over. It is composed of $2\%-3\%$ of iodine solution in alcohol and water.

Note: The elaborate definition and difference between antiseptics, antibiotics and disinfectants is very important. Students should memorise and understand this to avoid confusion in the future.