Final answer:
Disinfectants are chemical agents used to destroy bacteria, fungi, and viruses on nonporous surfaces, but they are not as thorough as sterilizers, which eliminate all types of microbial life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical products used to destroy most bacteria, fungi, and viruses on nonporous surfaces are called disinfectants. Disinfectants are different from sterilizers, which are designed to kill all forms of microbial life including bacterial spores. Antiseptics, unlike disinfectants, are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of infection. Lastly, sanitizers are agents that reduce microbial numbers to a safe level but do not completely eliminate all microbes. The proper use of these chemical products is crucial particularly in healthcare settings for infection control and sanitation practices.