Final answer:
The statement that most taste- and odor-producing compounds in water are inorganic is false; taste and odor are most often caused by organic compounds. Taste buds on the tongue contain taste receptor cells, and it is the hair-like endings of these taste buds that send signals to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that most taste- and odor-producing compounds in water are inorganic in nature is false. Taste and odor in water are most often caused by organic compounds rather than inorganic. Although some inorganic compounds, such as salts, acids, and bases do dissolve in water and are essential to life, they are less likely to impart taste and odor characteristics compared to organic compounds, which contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms. Taste can be influenced by a variety of factors including the presence of taste buds on the tongue and interaction with taste receptor cells, which play a crucial role in how humans perceive taste.
In terms of human taste, it is the hair-like endings of taste buds that generate nerve impulses to the brain (option d). Taste buds, which are the sensory organs located on the tongue, are not covered in papillae but rather are found within the structures of papillae. However, papillae themselves contain many taste buds, and it is the taste buds that stimulate the hair-like endings, resulting in the generation of nerve impulses that the brain interprets as different tastes. Taste is very important as it helps to evaluate food and environmental substances that can be nutritional or harmful, thereby aiding in survival.