Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: scientizscht on 30/12/2019 20:16:44

Title: Is there a molecule that kills cells upon contact?
Post by: scientizscht on 30/12/2019 20:16:44

Hello

Is there a molecule that kills cells upon contact?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Is there a molecule that kills cells upon contact?
Post by: Bored chemist on 31/12/2019 12:12:57

A quartz or diamond crystal (among others) is a single molecule.
If it is big, and going fast enough, it will kill pretty much anything.

Title: Re: Is there a molecule that kills cells upon contact?
Post by: Kryptid on 31/12/2019 13:27:35

You mean through chemical reaction? There are many, assuming you aren't limiting yourself to just a single molecule. Fluorine is a particularly nasty one.

Title: Re: Is there a molecule that kills cells upon contact?
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/01/2020 12:49:33

If my memory serves me well, it doesn't take many molecules of ricin to kill a cell.

Title: Re: Is there a molecule that kills cells upon contact?
Post by: set fair on 06/03/2020 20:28:00

Since it is in this section, I'm assuming you mean kill nasties. If their airborn, propelyne glycol kills most bacteria and some viruses. "Concentrations of 1 gm. of propylene glycol vapor in two to four million cc. of air produced immediate and complete sterilization of air into which pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci, H. influenzae, and other microorganisms as well as influenza virus had been sprayed." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2135271/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2135271/)