Question: What are the chemicals that help food to not Mold or rot?

Ciara O'Donovan answered on 7 Nov 2017:

Mold occurs when fungal spores (fungi are a type of microbe.. mushrooms are another type of fungi) that are in the air land on the food (such as bread). The mold then grows using the food source for nutrients. As the mold is growing on the food it makes chemicals to break it down which then causes the food to rot. Foods might contain preservatives to stop mold from growing on them. There are also natural preservatives such as vinegar and salt. Both types of preservatives will help food last for longer.