Question

Question

With liquid water underneath its icy surface, Jupiter’s moon Europa is often cited as a potential site for extraterrestrial life. What other compounds would indicate that chemosynthesis supports life on the planet?(1 point)
Responses

hydrogen peroxide
hydrogen peroxide

glucose
glucose

oxygen
oxygen

methane

Answer 1

For chemosynthesis to support life on Europa, the presence of compounds that are typically used by organisms as energy sources or as byproducts of metabolic processes would be important. Among the options provided:

• Hydrogen peroxide: While it can potentially serve as an oxidant in certain biochemical processes, it's not a direct indicator of life.
• Glucose: This is a product of photosynthesis and is a key energy source for many forms of life on Earth but is not directly linked to chemosynthesis.
• Oxygen: This is often a byproduct of photosynthesis and an indicator of life, but it can also be present in non-biological processes.
• Methane: This compound can be produced biologically through methanogenic organisms, particularly in anoxic environments, and could indicate microbial life.

Given this context, methane is the most relevant compound that could indicate chemosynthesis supporting life on Europa.

So, the best answer would be methane.