Biological destruction by oxidation

Definition

Oxidizers kill cells by pulling out the electrons that hold membranes, proteins, enzymes, and DNA in their working arrangements.

Membrane lipids break and the wall springs leaks, proteins lose their folds and slump into useless shapes, enzymes stop fitting their locks, and DNA takes hits it cannot read past. At a biocidal dose the cell cannot patch fast enough, so it dies because its identity has been edited, not merely damaged. Because life is electron arrangement, it cannot survive forced electron loss, making oxidation one of the most reliable kill mechanisms in water treatment.

Related concepts

Oxidation potential as driving force · Biocidal dose · Destructive oxidation

---

Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🦠 biology