Why do things rot? – Catalysis Zone

Question: Why do things rot?
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Asked by ALOrona to John, Laura, Luke, Rob, Ruth on 10 Jun 2016.
- Robert Williams answered on 10 Jun 2016:
  
  Rotting is a biochemical reaction in which organic matter reacts with oxygen and water in the presence of living organisms that act like catalysts to break the matter down to simple molecules they can absorb and use as food.
  Without this process the earth would be swallowed up by the left overs of dying organisms
- Laura Finney answered on 10 Jun 2016:
  
  I think they rot because otherwise we would be overrun with things left on the earth!
  
  They also rot to return chemicals and energy back into the earth so it is all a huge circle a lot like they say in the Lion King “the circle of life”. Many things that rot give nitrogen to plants that are living so that they can survive; that’s just one example. It gives the earth useful things so other life can continue.
- Ruth Patchett answered on 11 Jun 2016:
  
  Rotting is caused by bacteria growing on “organic” objects by which I mean things that were once alive like plants and animals not things like bricks and metal. The bacteria can use these objects as food which involves converting larger molecules into smaller molecules so they can digest them. They need oxygen and time to do this so that is why when we store food we try to do things to stop oxygen getting in (like canned food) or slow down the bacteria like freezing or keeping food in the fridge.
- John Fossey answered on 14 Jun 2016:
  
  Typically its the growth of bacteria – but one persons rotten milk is another persons cheese

Question: Why do things rot?

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