Few Important Questions

1. What is chemotherapy?
2. What is a food preservative? Give an example.
3. Which substance can be used as a disinfectant as well as an antiseptic?
4. What is the name of the sweetening agent used to prepare sweets for a diabetic patient?
5. Explain in detail the cleansing action of soap.
6. What is a cationic detergent? Explain with an example.
7. Explain the term broad-spectrum antibiotics.
8. Name the forces involved in holding the drugs to the active site on enzymes.

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Important answers:

Sure, here are the answers to your questions:

1. **Chemotherapy:** Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to

destroy cancer cells. These drugs work by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which is a
characteristic of cancer cells. While chemotherapy can be effective in killing cancer cells, it
can also affect healthy cells that divide rapidly, such as those in the bone marrow, digestive
tract, and hair follicles, leading to side effects like hair loss, nausea, and increased
susceptibility to infections.

2. **Food Preservative:** A food preservative is a substance added to food to prevent

spoilage, decay, or growth of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, thereby extending its
shelf life. An example of a food preservative is sodium benzoate, which is commonly used in
acidic foods like fruit juices, pickles, and soft drinks.

3. **Substance Used as Disinfectant and Antiseptic:** One substance commonly used as

both a disinfectant and an antiseptic is hydrogen peroxide. When used as a disinfectant, it
can kill a wide range of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores on surfaces. As an antiseptic, it
can be applied to wounds to prevent infection and promote healing.