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According to Oparin, which one of the following was not present in the primitive atmosphere of the earth :-
A
Oxygen
B
Hydrogen
C
Water vapour
D
Methane
Detailed Solution
According to Oparin and Haldane, the primitive atmosphere of the earth was a reducing atmosphere.
It contained methane ($CH_4$), ammonia ($NH_3$), hydrogen ($H_2$) and water vapour, but no free oxygen.
Energy from lightning, UV radiation and volcanic heat made these gases react to form simple organic molecules (chemical evolution). This was tested by Miller and Urey in 1953.
Free oxygen appeared much later, after cyanobacteria began oxygenic photosynthesis.
So oxygen was not present in the primitive atmosphere.
It contained methane ($CH_4$), ammonia ($NH_3$), hydrogen ($H_2$) and water vapour, but no free oxygen.
Energy from lightning, UV radiation and volcanic heat made these gases react to form simple organic molecules (chemical evolution). This was tested by Miller and Urey in 1953.
Free oxygen appeared much later, after cyanobacteria began oxygenic photosynthesis.
So oxygen was not present in the primitive atmosphere.