Final answer:
The statement is true; iodine compounds, such as the iodophor povidone-iodine, are capable of being sporicidal due to their oxidative effects on microbial cells when used correctly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that iodine compounds can be sporicidal if used properly is true. Iodine exerts its antimicrobial effects by oxidizing cellular components such as sulfur-containing amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids, which destabilize the macromolecules that contain these molecules. A commonly used iodine compound is povidone-iodine, a type of iodophor, which is an iodine compound complexed with an organic molecule that increases the stability and efficacy of iodine as a disinfectant. Betadine, which is a brand of povidone-iodine, is commonly used as a hand scrub by medical personnel and for topical antisepsis of a patient's skin before an incision. Therefore, due to its ability to oxidize essential microbial molecules and because of its efficacy as a disinfectant, iodine compounds can indeed be sporicidal when applied correctly.