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Question
To determine which molecules might have formed spontaneously on early earth, Stanley Miller used an apparatus with an atmosphere containing
To determine which molecules might have formed spontaneously on early earth, Stanley Miller used an apparatus with an atmosphere containing
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Solution
The correct option is D Hydrogen, ammonia, methane and water vapour
The Miller Urey experiment was a chemical experiment that simulated the conditions thought at the time to be present on the early Earth, and tested the chemical origin of life.
The experiment used water (H2O), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen (H2). The chemicals were all sealed inside a sterile 5-liter glass flask connected to a 500 ml flask half-full of liquid water. The liquid water in the smaller flask was heated to induce evaporation, and the water vapour was allowed to enter the larger flask. Continuous electrical sparks were fired between the electrodes to simulate lightning in the water vapour and gaseous mixture, and then the simulated atmosphere was cooled again so that the water condensed and trickled into a U-shaped trap at the bottom of the apparatus.
After a day, the solution collected at the trap had turned pink in colour. At the end of one week of continuous operation, the boiling flask was removed, and mercuric chloride was added to prevent microbial contamination. The reaction was stopped by adding barium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, and evaporated to remove impurities. Paper chromatography revealed the presence of glycine, - and -alanine. Miller could not ascertain aspartic acid and GABA, due to faint spots.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D.
The Miller Urey experiment was a chemical experiment that simulated the conditions thought at the time to be present on the early Earth, and tested the chemical origin of life.
The experiment used water (H2O), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen (H2). The chemicals were all sealed inside a sterile 5-liter glass flask connected to a 500 ml flask half-full of liquid water. The liquid water in the smaller flask was heated to induce evaporation, and the water vapour was allowed to enter the larger flask. Continuous electrical sparks were fired between the electrodes to simulate lightning in the water vapour and gaseous mixture, and then the simulated atmosphere was cooled again so that the water condensed and trickled into a U-shaped trap at the bottom of the apparatus.
After a day, the solution collected at the trap had turned pink in colour. At the end of one week of continuous operation, the boiling flask was removed, and mercuric chloride was added to prevent microbial contamination. The reaction was stopped by adding barium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, and evaporated to remove impurities. Paper chromatography revealed the presence of glycine, - and -alanine. Miller could not ascertain aspartic acid and GABA, due to faint spots.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D.
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