• Question: Can chemicals cure diseases?

    Asked by anon-196552 to Sebastian on 5 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Sebastian Cosgrove

      Sebastian Cosgrove answered on 5 Mar 2019:

      Yes they can! Most drugs that we use, including things like antibiotics that come from many natural sources, are all chemicals! Using small chemicals is in fact one of the most common ways to treat diseases, which is why it is important that we have lots of different ways to make them. In fact, just last year there 59 brand new chemicals that were made that can be used to cure different diseases, ranging from cancer, to flu and even several treatments for skin infections!

Comments

  • Photo: Fiona

    Fiona commented on :

    Yes! The word “chemicals” shouldn’t be used to just think of harmful substances. A “drug” is any chemical substance that has a biological response – good or bad. Paracetamol is a chemical, taxol, a cancer drug, is a chemical.