Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Gas Exchange Experiment on board the Viking landers?
A) radioactive gases should be produced when radioactive nutrients are added to a soil sample
B) living organisms in the soil should give off gases when they metabolize nutrients
C) soil with living organisms in it should contain organic molecules
D) living organisms in the soil should incorporate carbon from atmospheric gases

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Gas Exchange Experiment was designed to test if there were living organisms in the Martian soil by observing if any gases were produced when nutrients were added to the soil. The idea was that if there were living organisms in the soil, they would metabolize the added nutrients and release gases such as oxygen or carbon dioxide. Option A is incorrect because radioactive gases were not the focus of the experiment. Option C is incorrect because organic molecules can be present in soil even without living organisms. Option D is incorrect because it does not relate to the specific idea being tested by the Gas Exchange Experiment.

Which of the Following Statements Best Describes the Idea Behind