Ozone sterilization uses which two components to achieve sterilization?

• A. Oxygen and water
• B. Ozone gas and heat
• C. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide
• D. Oxygen and hydrogen

Answer: (A)

Ozone sterilization relies on the strong oxidizing power of ozone, which is generated from molecular oxygen. For the ozone to effectively inactivate microorganisms, humidity is needed to activate and enhance its oxidizing action. Therefore, the two components involved are the gas formed from oxygen and the water vapor (moisture) present in the environment. This combination enables effective low-temperature sterilization of heat-sensitive items.