Disinfection of a floor using<unk>  liquid applied using a mop. Levels of resistance of microbes to<unk> s. A<unk>  is a chemical substance or compound used to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than sterilization, which is an extreme physical or chemical process that kills all types of life.<unk> s are generally distinguished from other antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics, which destroy microorganisms within the body, and antiseptics, which destroy microorganisms on living tissue.<unk> s are also different from biocides—the latter are intended to destroy all forms of life, not just microorganisms.<unk> s work by destroying the cell wall of microbes or interfering with their metabolism. It is also a form of decontamination, and can be defined as the process whereby physical or chemical methods are used to reduce the amount of pathogenic microorganisms on a surface.<unk> s can also be used to destroy microorganisms on the skin and mucous membrane, as in the medical dictionary historically the word simply meant that it destroys microbes. Sanitizers are substances that simultaneously clean and disinfect.<unk> s kill more germs than sanitizers.<unk> s are frequently used in hospitals, dental surgeries, kitchens, and bathrooms to kill infectious organisms. Sanitizers are mild compared to<unk> s and are used majorly to clean things that are in human contact whereas<unk> s are concentrated and are used to clean surfaces like floors and building premises. Bacterial endospores are most resistant to<unk> s, but some fungi, viruses and bacteria also possess some resistance.<unk> s are used to rapidly kill bacteria. They kill off the bacteria by causing the proteins to become damaged and the outer layers of the bacteria cell to rupture. The DNA material subsequently leaks out. In wastewater treatment, a disinfection step with chlorine, ultra-violet (UV) radiation or ozonation can be included as tertiary treatment to remove pathogens from wastewater, for example if it is to be discharged to a river or the sea where there body contact immersion recreations is practiced (Europe) or reused to irrigate golf courses (US). An alternative term used in the sanitation sector for disinfection of waste streams, sewage sludge or fecal sludge is sanitisation or sanitization.
Disinfectant
Antiseptic
Hand sanitizer
Insect repellent
Deodorant
Prebiotic 
Immunostimulant
Pesticide