Osmosis and food preservation

Question 1

Name two examples of how osmosis is used in food preservation

Answer 1

Preserving food in salty solutions

Preserving food in sugar solutions

Question 2

How is food preserved in high salt solutions?

Answer 2

Any microorganism in or on the food will lose water and become dehydrated as a result of osmosis

Question 3

How is food preserved in high sugar solutions?

Answer 3

Food can be preserved by making jams by using a high sugar concentration as this dehydrates any microorganisms present through osmosis

Question 4

Why is osmosis used to preserve foods?

Answer 4

it is used to prevent micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi from growing on food. This prevents them from producing harmful toxins and from decaying the food.