How does penicillin change the water potential in bacteria?

Penicillin affects the water potential in bacteria by inhibiting the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a crucial component of bacterial cell walls. As the cell wall becomes weakened, the bacterium is unable to maintain its structural integrity, leading to an imbalance in osmotic pressure. This results in increased internal pressure and can cause the cell to swell and eventually burst due to lysis, effectively altering the water potential within the bacterial cell.