Suppose an exponentially growing culture of bacteria is treated with a potential antimicrobial compound. Over the next few hours, cell doubling stops (untreated, control cultures continue doubling), but the cells remain metabolically active. This antimicrobial compound is

Bacteriostatic

Explanation:

The antibiotics are the compounds which are used to treat the bacteria and are of two types: the bacteriostatic and bactericidal.

The bacteriostatic antibiotics are the antibiotics that do not kill the cells but they stop the reproduction of the bacteria and keep them in their stationary phase.

In the given question, since the antibiotic does not kill the cell but stops the doubling that is reproduction therefore the antibiotic is bacteriostatic.

Thus, bacteriostatic is correct.