What phenomenon occurs in bacterial cells when they freeze due to cytoplasm expansion?

When bacterial cells freeze, the expanding cytoplasm can lead to structural damage. As water inside the cells freezes, it forms ice crystals, which can increase in volume and exert pressure on the cell membrane and internal structures. This pressure can cause the cell wall to rupture, resulting in cell lysis.

Therefore, the phenomenon of cell rupture is closely associated with the freezing process due to the mechanical stress caused by ice formation within the cytoplasm. This understanding is crucial in fields like microbiology and food preservation, where the freezing of bacterial cultures can be detrimental to cell integrity.