The first chemicals that provided potential energy on Earth may have been formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.While these were produced by sunlight-driven reactions,they also occur around deep-sea vents.If the first organisms on Earth evolved around these vents,the first life on Earth was _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are chemicals that can be found around deep-sea vents, indicating a chemosynthetic source of potential energy. Therefore, the first life on Earth was likely chemosynthetic, obtaining energy from chemicals rather than the Sun or other organisms.

The First Chemicals That Provided Potential Energy on Earth May