JEANILA ESTORBA BSED-SCIENCE 4

Coronaviruses have a relatively pleiomorphic shape and are generally spherical. The surface spikes or
peplomers of these viruses, which have been variably described as being club-like, pear-shaped, or petal-
shaped, protrude from the virion surface and have an average diameter of 80–120 nm. They have a narrow
base that enlarges to a width of about 10 nm at the distal extremity.

A virus is sheathed in a shell of proteins and lipid.

Since the coronavirus has a lipid bilayer or fats, and fats never breakdown in water, simply washing your
hands with water is ineffective.

An illustration is when you add some olive oil to water. Because fats and water
don't mix, the oil gathers in a mass that floats.

WHY NOT OIL AND WATER MIX?

 Because water molecule is polar, meaning they both have a positive

and negative charge. Opposites attract, the positive ends of water
molecules stick to negative ends of other water molecules, forming
bonds. However oil molecules are non-polar, so neither they have
positive nor negative charge, and this is what prevents water and oil
from sticking and mixed together.
WHAT IS SOAP?

 These are molecules that have a dual nature. One end of the molecule is attracted to water and
repelled by fats and proteins. The other side of the molecule is attracted to fats and is repelled by
water.

HOW SOAP DESTROYS VIRUSES?

 The side of the soap molecule that attracts fat and repels water buries its way inside the protein
and fat covering of the virus. Molecular water will bind with the side that is attracted to it. The fat-
attractive side, on the other hand, will steer clear of water molecules and latch onto any fat
molecules that are there. Fortunately, the virus's chemical interactions aren't particularly strong, so
this interference is sufficient to damage the virus's coat.
  As the soap molecules combine with the water and are washed away, the coronavirus envelope is
physically torn apart. The genetic content of the virus will begin to deteriorate as soon as the
coronavirus envelope is removed, leaving it exposed and unprotected.
 However, time is required for the reaction to happen, so you should wash your hands for at least
20 seconds.

ALCOHOL

 Alcohol, the main ingredient in hand sanitizer, can

destroy viruses, too. Alcohol functions similarly to soap
because it contains molecules that are attracted to both
water and fat. Alcohol can break down coronaviruses'
protective envelope similarly to soap.
 Either 60 or 70 percent solutions of isopropyl or ethyl
alcohol are typically recommended for use. Avoid using
alcohol solutions that are more than 70% since they
tend to evaporate more quickly.