Miller-Urey experiment Flashcards
What molecules are believed to be part of the primitive Earth atmosphere?
- Nitrogen
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen gas
- CO2
- Water
- Methane
How did oxygen become part of the atmosphere?
The advent of photosynthesis
How are organic molecules believed to have formed in this primitive atmosphere?
Organic molecules could be formed under the atmospheric conditions if there was a source of energy, such as: electricity from storms or UV rays from the sun
What is the process for the experiment?
- In a water reservoir, add the primitive atmospheric molecules: Nitrogen, Hydrogen gas, Ammonia, CO2, methane, and Water,
- the water solution was then heated and formed a vapor
- The water then traveled up a tube into a chamber, where it would be shocked with electrical energy from electrodes
- This would simulate lightning and the air from primitive Earth
- The vapor would then be condensed in a condenser and the water solution was outputted
- Results show that simple organic molecules have formed
What equipment is needed for the experiment?
- A reservoir for water
- Tubes connecting chambers and the condenser
- The chamber has electrodes in
- Underneath is a condenser to turn vapor back into water
- A source of heat
- Sampling ports
What changes were analyzed in the water outputted from the experiment?
- Addition of simple carbon compounds which then combined to create a second group of intermediate products
What were the simple carbon compounds formed in the experiment?
- Formaldehyde
- Hydrogen cyanide
What did the simple carbon compounds form when combined?
- Amino acids
- Formic acid
- Urea
What does this experiment show?
Simple organic compounds could be formed form gases present in the primitive atmosphere with the input of electrical energy.
What is free energy?
Energy that is available to do work
What are inorganic molecules?
Molecules that do not contain carbon
Who hypothesized the original atmosphere of Earth?
Oparin and Haldane
What are organic molecules?
Molecules containing carbon
What is the primordial soup hypothesis?
The first simple organic molecules where made by inorganic molecules of the primitive atmosphere + free energy + an environment without oxygen
What is a reducing atmosphere?
An atmospheric condition where the lack of oxygen means there is no oxidization occurring, also includes many naturally reducing gases like H, CO, and gases that would oxidize in the presence of oxygen.
