How do hypertonic solutions solutions kill bacteria and fungi that would otherwise spoil foods?

Question

The foods that are used for an example are pickles and jellies. Also, why would distilled water not bacteria or fungi?

Answer 1

Both the other answerers are correct. I would add that all organisms must have enough water inside cell to allow for chemical reactions to take place, ie for enzymes to interact with their substrates.

The reason distilled water won't usually kill these specific organisms is because they both have cell walls. Since the water would flow into the cell due to osmosis, cells without cell walls would explode. The cell wall of bacteria includes peptidoglycan and the cell wall of fungi is made of chitin. These molecules protect the cells from bursting due to osmotic pressure.

Answer 2

Ew

Answer 3

in a hypertonic solution, there will be a higher concentration of solutes in the solution relative to that of the bacterial or fungal cell. as a result, osmosis occurs and water leaves the cell.

in bacterial cells, crenation will occur and it's shape will be distorted. they will eventually die.

Answer 4

because when osmosis takes effect all the water that is inside of the bacteria will be pulled out and eventually kill the organism