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

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.

anonymous · Answer

C:both flasks because both were needed to provide all the necessary conditions for formation of coacervates

anonymous · Answer

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. Without an energy source, nothing would occur, so only the flask with electrodes would contain coacervates.