Putting bee honey on a cut kills bacteria. Honey contains a high concentration of sugar. Use your knowledge of water potential to suggest how putting honey on a cut kills bacteria.

Once honey is added to an infected cut, the osmotic gradient favours water moving from the bacterial cells to the honey. This is because the water potential is lower in the honey. As a result of the loss of water, the bacteria stops metabolic processes and the bacteria dies.

HM
Answered by Harry M. Biology tutor

3544 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

three part question 1. what are dissacharides 2. what are maltose, lactose and sucrose formed of 3. what is the bond between them called


Explain how water is re-absorbed in the kidney


What is a cholinergic synapse?


What is meant by the "fluid-mosaic" model of cell membrane structure?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning