What is the term for a chemical compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria?

The term for a chemical compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria is referred to as an antibiotic. Antibiotics are specific types of antimicrobial agents that target bacterial cells and are used to treat bacterial infections effectively. They work by interfering with various cellular processes in bacteria, such as cell wall synthesis, protein production, and DNA replication, ultimately leading to the elimination of the infection.

In contrast, chemotherapy generally refers to the use of drugs to kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells, not bacteria. A biopsy is a medical procedure to sample tissue for diagnostic purposes, while a protist is a diverse group of mostly unicellular organisms that are not related to the classification of compounds used for treating bacterial infections. Thus, the focus on antibiotics clearly distinguishes them as the correct answer for the given question.