Final answer:
Microorganisms like bacteria in concentrated salt or sugar solutions usually die due to dehydration caused by high osmotic pressure, which leads to plasmolysis. Some, like halophiles, can survive by adapting to these conditions. Endospores may become dormant to withstand harsh environments. Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When microorganisms such as bacteria are exposed to concentrated salt or sugar solutions, they generally face a high osmotic pressure, which results in water being drawn out from the inside of the cell to the outside where the solute concentration is higher. This process, known as plasmolysis, leads to the dehydration and death of the cells.
Hence, in the presence of high concentrations of salts or sugars, many microorganisms do not survive as the environment becomes hypertonic. However, some microorganisms, like certain molds and yeasts, are more tolerant of these conditions.
Specific bacteria, known as halophiles, thrive in high salt concentrations, adapting to extreme osmotic pressures by accumulating compatible solutes such as potassium ions or by producing compounds like glycerol to balance the internal and external pressures.
Other bacteria may become dormant as a response to harsh environments, forming endospores that can withstand a variety of stress factors. It's important to note that while bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics through various mechanisms, this is different from surviving in a hypertonic solution.