Electrolysis Practice Exam 2026 - Free Electrolysis Practice Questions and Study Guide

To effectively sterilize objects, boiling water must reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure and is crucial for the process of sterilization. At this temperature, water has enough thermal energy to kill most bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens present on surfaces. The effectiveness of boiling as a method of sterilization relies on maintaining this temperature for a sufficient amount of time to ensure that all microorganisms are eliminated.

While options that suggest temperatures lower than 212 degrees Fahrenheit might seem reasonable, they do not provide the necessary heat to ensure complete sterilization. For instance, 200 degrees Fahrenheit and 180 degrees Fahrenheit may not be sufficient to achieve a level of microbial inactivation that is considered safe. The option specifying a higher temperature, such as 250 degrees Fahrenheit, exceeds the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure and would be more applicable in contexts such as autoclaving, which uses pressurized steam to achieve sterilization at temperatures above boiling, but is not relevant to boiling water alone. Therefore, reaching 212 degrees Fahrenheit is essential when using boiling water for sterilizing objects.