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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Chemistry in Everyday Life  ·  NEET & JEE

Why are broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as tetracycline and chloramphenicol, sometimes used cautiously despite their effectiveness against a wide range of bacteria?

Answer: They act against several types of bacteria, which may also disturb the population of beneficial bacteria in the body.

  • A They act against several types of bacteria, which may also disturb the population of beneficial bacteria in the body
  • B They are absorbed poorly by the human digestive system compared with narrow-spectrum drugs as widely reported in standard reference material
  • C They are effective mainly against viruses and have a limited effect on most bacterial cells under most conditions studied
  • D They work mainly by raising body temperature, which can feel uncomfortable for the patient in most observed cases

Correct answer: A. They act against several types of bacteria, which may also disturb the population of beneficial bacteria in the body

Explanation: Broad-spectrum antibiotics act against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, so along with harmful bacteria they can also reduce populations of beneficial bacteria in the body.

Micelle Formation: How Soap Removes Greasegrease / oilhydrophobic tail (in oil) - hydrophilic head (in water, blue circles)

The hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail of each soap/detergent molecule dissolves into an oily dirt droplet, while the hydrophilic (ionic) head stays in the surrounding water - trapping the grease inside a micelle that rinses away with water.

Concept context

Drugs and how they interact with biological targets, chemicals in food, and cleansing agents (soaps and detergents) - chemistry applied directly to daily life and healthcare.

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