Answer
If the concentration of a solute outside a cell is lower than inside, water will enter the cell by osmosis. If the opposite is true, however (concentration inside cell is lower than outside), water will move out of the cell. As honey is 82% carbohydrate by weight, the concentration of solute in honey is very high. If a micro-organism were to enter honey, the concentration of solute inside the microorganism would be lower than honey. It will dehydrate as a result, as water is flowing out of the cells.
Work Step by Step
If the concentration of a solute outside a cell is lower than inside, water will enter the cell by osmosis. If the opposite is true, however (concentration inside cell is lower than outside), water will move out of the cell. As honey is 82% carbohydrate by weight, the concentration of solute in honey is very high. If a micro-organism were to enter honey, the concentration of solute inside the microorganism would be lower than honey. It will dehydrate as a result, as water is flowing out of the cells.
