Which term describes a substance capable of destroying fungi?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes a substance capable of destroying fungi?

Explanation:
Describing a substance that destroys fungi uses the term fungicidal. Here, the root fung- refers to fungi and the suffix -cidal means killing, so fungicidal exactly means capable of killing fungi. Bactericidal kills bacteria, virucidal kills viruses, and germicidal is broader and means capable of killing germs in general, which can include bacteria, viruses, and sometimes fungi but isn’t specific to fungi. If you need an agent that truly eliminates fungal cells, fungicidal is the precise descriptor. (If an agent only inhibits growth rather than killing, that would be fungistatic.)

Describing a substance that destroys fungi uses the term fungicidal. Here, the root fung- refers to fungi and the suffix -cidal means killing, so fungicidal exactly means capable of killing fungi. Bactericidal kills bacteria, virucidal kills viruses, and germicidal is broader and means capable of killing germs in general, which can include bacteria, viruses, and sometimes fungi but isn’t specific to fungi. If you need an agent that truly eliminates fungal cells, fungicidal is the precise descriptor. (If an agent only inhibits growth rather than killing, that would be fungistatic.)

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