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Question 39 of 50

Q.Which one was absent in the atmosphere at the time of the origin of life?

(a) NH3
(b) H2
(c) CH4
(d) O2
West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2022MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
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Earth's primitive atmosphere was reducing (no free oxygen); free O2 accumulated only later, after photosynthetic organisms evolved.

According to the chemical evolution theory (Oparin-Haldane hypothesis), the primitive Earth's atmosphere was a REDUCING atmosphere, containing gases like methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen (H2), and water vapour, but essentially no free molecular oxygen (O2). This reducing, oxygen-free environment was essential because it allowed simple organic molecules (amino acids, sugars, nucleotides) to form and accumulate from inorganic precursors under the influence of UV radiation, lightning, and he …

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