Final answer:
Alcohols denature proteins and disrupt cell membranes, UV light damages genetic material, and soap breaks down lipid envelopes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alcohols, UV light, soap, and other disinfectants can inactivate viruses through different mechanisms.
Alcohols work by denaturing proteins and disrupting the virus's cell membrane. This inhibits the virus's ability to infect host cells and replicate.
UV light can damage the virus's genetic material, creating thymine dimers that prevent replication.
Soap can also deactivate viruses by breaking down their lipid envelope. The soap molecules disrupt the interactions that hold the virus's envelope together.