Final answer:
Infrared waves have longer wavelengths and lower energies, making them insufficient for killing bacteria; X-rays have shorter wavelengths and higher energies, allowing them to penetrate deeply and sterilize surfaces. c. Infrared waves; radio waves
Step-by-step explanation:
Infrared waves have a long wavelength and do not possess sufficient energy to kill bacterial cells, while X-rays have a short wavelength and can be used to sterilize a surface. Infrared rays, with their longer wavelengths and lower frequencies, have lower energies compared to other types of electromagnetic radiation, and hence they are not capable of initiating the ionizing processes required to break molecular bonds and kill bacteria.
On the other hand, X-rays, with their extremely short wavelengths (from about 1 × 10-8m to 10-12 m) and high frequencies (ranging from 3 × 1016 to 6 × 1019 Hz), have high energies that allow them to penetrate matter deeply and exert ionizing effects on cells, which can be harnessed to sterilize surfaces, among other medical uses. These properties of X-rays enable them to cause damage to living cells, potentially leading to cancer and genetic defects, but also to treat cancer through controlled exposure.