Your teacher gives you an unknown bacterium to observe. Select the method that would help you determine whether the bacterium is a chemotroph.(1 point)

Question

Responses

exposing the bacterium to carbon dioxide to see if it fixes carbon
exposing the bacterium to carbon dioxide to see if it fixes carbon

exposing the bacterium to direct sunlight to see if it converts light to chemical energy
exposing the bacterium to direct sunlight to see if it converts light to chemical energy

growing the bacterium in a sulfur solution to see if it breaks the inorganic molecules down
growing the bacterium in a sulfur solution to see if it breaks the inorganic molecules down

growing the bacterium in an agar tube filled with protein to see if it breaks the organic molecules down

Answer 1

To determine whether the bacterium is a chemotroph, the most appropriate method would be:

growing the bacterium in an agar tube filled with protein to see if it breaks the organic molecules down.

Chemotrophs obtain energy by oxidizing chemical compounds (either organic or inorganic). Testing the bacterium's ability to break down organic molecules (like proteins) would help identify if it is a chemotroph. The other methods focus on photosynthesis or carbon fixation, which are more relevant for differentiating autotrophs (like phototrophs) rather than identifying chemotrophs.