Metabolism may have begun when ____ within rocks donated electrons to dissolved carbon monoxide (CO), forming organic compounds.
A)oxygen
B)iron sulfide
C)carbon dioxide
D)hydrogen gas
E)ammonia

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron sulfide can act as a catalyst for the formation of organic compounds from simple carbon-containing molecules like carbon monoxide. This process is called Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and it is thought to have occurred in hydrothermal vents on the early Earth, leading to the production of organic molecules that could have eventually become the basis of life.

Metabolism May Have Begun When ____ Within Rocks Donated Electrons