Final answer:
Phenolics are the chemical method that denatures proteins, disrupts cell membranes, is tuberculocidal, and remains active on surfaces, which fits the description given in the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical method that denatures proteins, disrupts cell membranes, is tuberculocidal, and remains active on surfaces is Phenolics (option b). Phenolics include compounds such as hexachlorophene and triclosan, known for their long-acting disinfectant properties. These compounds work effectively by denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, which is pivotal in controlling microbial growth. Moreover, phenolics have been historically compared to phenol in terms of effectiveness, as phenol was the standard reference for evaluating chemical disinfectants.
It is important to note that alcohols like ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are also commonly used as disinfectants and antiseptics; they function by rapidly denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes. However, due to the specific attributes described in the question—namely, being tuberculocidal and maintaining activity on surfaces—phenolics are the most accurate answer.