Final answer:
The standard conditions used to sterilize contents of a flask using an autoclave are 121 degrees Celsius at 15 psi for 15 minutes. This combination of temperature, pressure, and time ensures effective sterilization, including the destruction of endospores. Option e is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Standard Conditions for Steam Sterilization
When you need to sterilize the contents of a flask using steam under pressure, a device commonly used is an autoclave. The standard temperature, pressure, and time conditions for an autoclave typically involve heating at 121 degrees Celsius at 15 psi for about 15 to 20 minutes. These conditions are effective for killing endospores and achieving complete sterilization.
Autoclaves work by applying high pressure to boil water at a temperature higher than its normal boiling point. This produces steam, which, when maintained at high pressure, can penetrate materials and destroy microorganisms, including spores that are difficult to kill by other methods. The specific details of the cycle, such as heating time and pressure, may vary depending on the volume and nature of the material being sterilized.
Given the options presented in the question, the correct parameters for running an autoclave are 121 degrees Celsius at 15 psi for 15 minutes. This setting ensures that sufficient heat transfer occurs for the sterilization process to be effective, especially for killing highly resistant endospores, which are the toughest form of microorganisms to kill.