Final answer:
The ideal properties of a disinfectant include rapid action, broad-spectrum activity, non-toxicity to humans, persistent activity, and a residual effect. Soil is known to yield compounds with high antimicrobial activity. Factors like concentration, temperature, and contact time affect disinfectant effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The properties considered ideal for a disinfectant include rapid action to ensure that pathogens are killed or inactivated swiftly, broad-spectrum activity to target a wide range of microbial life, non-toxicity to humans so that the disinfectant can be used safely, persistent activity to provide continuing antimicrobial action, and a residual effect for prolonged effectiveness even after application.
As for chemical disinfectants, their effectiveness has historically been compared to that of phenol, which was among the first standard disinfectants.
In terms of antimicrobial substances, soil has been found to yield compounds with significant antimicrobial activity. Moreover, when scientists modify these natural compounds to make them more effective against a broader range of microbes, the resulting drugs are known as semisynthetic.