Elixirs are self-preserving if they contain more than 12% alcohol.

Elixirs are self-preserving if they contain more than 12% alcohol.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not necessarily
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that ethanol acts as a preservative in hydroalcoholic liquids. When an elixir contains more than about 12% alcohol by volume, the ethanol concentration is high enough to inhibit the growth of many bacteria, yeasts, and molds by denaturing proteins, disrupting cell membranes, and reducing water activity. This antimicrobial action makes the product self-preserving, so added preservatives aren’t strictly necessary. That’s why the statement is true. If the alcohol content were lower, the elixir would rely more on other preservatives, so the claim wouldn’t hold as a universal rule.

The key idea is that ethanol acts as a preservative in hydroalcoholic liquids. When an elixir contains more than about 12% alcohol by volume, the ethanol concentration is high enough to inhibit the growth of many bacteria, yeasts, and molds by denaturing proteins, disrupting cell membranes, and reducing water activity. This antimicrobial action makes the product self-preserving, so added preservatives aren’t strictly necessary. That’s why the statement is true. If the alcohol content were lower, the elixir would rely more on other preservatives, so the claim wouldn’t hold as a universal rule.