Preservatives such as citric acid are added to foods to interfere with bacterial growth. This creates an acidic pH in the food. Why does this affect the bacteria that are present?
A) An acidic environment increases the activation energy more quickly in bacteria.
B) An acidic environment causes bacterial enzymes to fail or work less efficiently.
C) An acidic environment causes the bacteria to grow more rapidly.
D) An acidic environment encourages endergonic reactions in the bacterial cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An acidic environment can denature enzymes or alter their active sites, making them less effective or completely ineffective, which disrupts the bacteria's metabolic processes.

Preservatives Such as Citric Acid Are Added to Foods to Interfere