Final answer:
Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) do not function by cross-linking proteins. They actually disrupt the phospholipid plasma membranes of bacterial cells and lead to cell death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The FALSE statement about quaternary ammonium compounds is A) They function by cross-linking proteins. Quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, actually disrupt the phospholipid plasma membranes of bacterial cells and lead to cell death. They have properties similar to phospholipids and can insert into the bacterial phospholipid bilayer, disrupting membrane integrity and causing damage.