Question

Which of the following is CRITICAL to EO penetration of bacterial cells?

a) High humidity
b) High temperature
c) High pressure
d) High concentration

Answer 1

High concentration is critical for the effective penetration of essential oils (EO) into bacterial cells, as it helps in increasing the gradient difference across the cell membrane, allowing for easier diffusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The critical factor for EO penetration of bacterial cells is high concentration. EOs, or essential oils, can penetrate the membranes of bacterial cells more effectively at higher concentrations. This is because a more concentrated solution can increase the gradient difference across the cell membrane, helping the EO components to diffuse into the cell more readily. High humidity, temperature, and pressure are important for various aspects of bacterial growth and survival; however, for the penetration of EO specifically, it is the concentration that is most critical.