Question

Stanley Miller and Harold Urey's classic experiments showed that

A) Simple organic compounds could have been produced by lightning and early atmospheric gases.
B) Simple organic compounds could have been formed by the oxidation of inorganic compounds.
C) Complex organic compounds could have been brought to Earth by meteorites.
D) Complex organic compounds could have been formed by submerged volcanoes and deep-sea vents.

Answer 1

Stanley Miller and Harold Urey's experiments indicated that simple organic compounds could form under conditions simulating early Earth, with lightning acting as a catalyst.

Step-by-step explanation:

Stanley Miller and Harold Urey's classic experiments demonstrated that simple organic compounds could have been produced by lightning and early atmospheric gases. Their work played a crucial role in supporting the idea that life's building blocks could form in the conditions of early Earth. Miller and Urey's experiment simulated the effects of lightning on a mixture of gases believed to represent Earth's early atmosphere, such as methane, ammonia, water vapor, and hydrogen. They exposed this mixture to electric sparks to mimic lightning, and within a week, essential organic molecules like amino acids were formed.