Utilization of many different chemical agents to kill or control bacteria is used every day by a variety of people and institutions. Chemical agents come in two different forms either antiseptics or disinfectants. Antiseptics : substances that kill or inhibit microbial growth and are gentle enough to be applied to living tissue. Disinfectants : Substances that are applied to inanimate objects to kill or reduce microorganisms. They are harsh and damaging to living tissue. Sanitizers are substances that do not completely eliminate all bacteria but reduce them to a safe number. Those agents that inhibit the growth of bacteria only are called bacteriostatic. However those agents that kill bacteria are known as bactericidal.