This is in the context of well/tap water that doesn’t meet “potable water” requirements due to lack of inspection thoroughness/frequency
In: Chemistry
Bacterial cells are mostly made of proteins. Many proteins are fine with getting cold, but not fine with getting hot; high temperatures cause the protein molecules to unfold from their normal shapes, or even break apart, meaning they don’t work properly anymore. If this happens to enough of the proteins in a cell, the cell dies. This is why heat kills bacteria but cold doesn’t (unless it’s really really super cold).
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