An unpressurized autoclave would not be able to sterilize a growth medium with contaminating bacteria but could still pasteurize it.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Pasteurization involves heating a substance to a specific temperature and holding it at that temperature for a certain amount of time to kill most of the microorganisms present, without necessarily achieving complete sterilization. An unpressurized autoclave would still be able to achieve pasteurization, but it would not be able to reach the high temperatures and pressures required for complete sterilization of the growth medium.

An Unpressurized Autoclave Would Not Be Able to Sterilize a Growth