Question

Bacteria can not survive a highly salted pickle, because

• A. They become plasmolysed and killed.
• B. Salt inhibit respiration.
• C. Pickle do not contain nutrients necessary for bacteria.
• D. Bacteria do not get light for photosynthesis.

Answer 1

The correct option is A They become plasmolysed and killed.

Osmosis is the movement of across a semi-permeable membrane driven by the osmotic pressure gradient. Water moves from the region of high osmotic pressure to that of the lower one. Plasma membrane is highly permeable to water since water can move through protein channels. The presence of salt increase the osmolarity of pickle and the water moves out of bacterial cell causing them to shrink, i.e., plasmolysis. Thus, the correct answer is option A.