Question

(b) What is the Vital force theory? Why was it discarded?

Answer 1

Vital force theory -

• It is assumed that organic compounds are only formed in living cells and there is no known method to prepare them in laboratories.
• It was believed that they produced some vital force on nature so it is called vital force theory.

Reason It was discarded

• Because Friedrich Wohler showed that it was possible to obtain an organic compound (urea) in the laboratory.
• $N{H}_{4}CNO\to CO{\left(N{H}_2\right)}_2$ (urea).