In their experiment to form a primitive living cell, Urey and Miller set up various flasks with water vapor and the gases CO2, CH4, and H2. One flask also had electrodes to generate spark; another flask had electrodes to generate spark; another flask had everything but electrodes. Which of the flasks showed presence of coacervates, and why?

A: only the flask with the electrodes because the electrodes were a source of electricity that simulated lighting.

B: only the flask without electrodes because the electricity generated from electrodes would have destroyed the coacervates.

Question

Jakob Holland

Chemistry

7 October, 12:40

In their experiment to form a primitive living cell, Urey and Miller set up various flasks with water vapor and the gases CO2, CH4, and H2. One flask also had electrodes to generate spark; another flask had electrodes to generate spark; another flask had everything but electrodes. Which of the flasks showed presence of coacervates, and why?

A: only the flask with the electrodes because the electrodes were a source of electricity that simulated lighting.

B: only the flask without electrodes because the electricity generated from electrodes would have destroyed the coacervates.

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Natalie Mason · Answer 1

The answer is clearly the option A, because in the Urey/Miller experiment, they simulated Earth's early atmosphere and they simulated the lightning as electrodes, to see if single compounds or amino acids would form. Hope this is useful