What is the process by which novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (which causes the disease COVID-19) can effectively be destroyed with soap and water?
- The virus has a membrane of oily lipid molecules, studded with proteins which help the virus to infect a person’s cells.
- Soap molecules can resist the virus’ ability to infect an individual’s cells because the structure of soap features one end that bonds with water and another end which resists water.
- Soap can destroy the COVID-19-causing virus when the water-shunning tails of soap’s molecules edge themselves into the virus’ lipid membrane, where it can then pry the virus apart.
- Soap traps the fragments of the destroyed virus in tiny bubbles called micelles, which wash away in water.
Once the virus is washed away, it is no-longer harmful to the person's body.
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