• Shard@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    4 months ago

    ELI5 answer is 90% alcohol dries out the bacteria too fast and it converts into a bacterial spore with a hard shell that protects its insides.

    70% alcohol gives it time to penetrate the cell wall and “dissolve” the insides of the bacteria, either killing it or rendering it non infective.