What is a sign that sterilization has been achieved according to the chemical strips?

The correct answer, which indicates that sterilization has been achieved according to the chemical strips, involves items changing color. This color change is a specific reaction of chemical indicators used in sterilization processes. When the sterilization cycle is completed successfully, the chemical strips change to a predetermined color, signifying that the conditions necessary for effective sterilization, such as heat and steam, have been met. This is a reliable visual confirmation that the sterilization process has worked effectively.

Other options do not serve as indicators of sterilization. For instance, items becoming heavier or changing texture do not provide any meaningful information regarding the sterilization status. Similarly, items emitting a sound is not a recognized sign of sterilization effectiveness; instead, it may be a side effect of certain equipment, which isn’t directly related to assessing sterilization. Only the color change of the chemical strip is the accepted method used in the field to validate that sterilization has been achieved.