How Well Do You Know Vitalism?

Vitalism is the theory that suggests that organic matter can only be created by organisms that convert non-organic compounds into organic ones. This theory believes that there is a vital force or life force present in living organisms that is responsible for the creation of organic matter. It proposes that organic compounds cannot be synthesized through purely chemical processes alone, but require the intervention of this vital force. This theory was popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries but has been largely discredited by modern scientific understanding.

The synthesis of organic compounds requires a vital force because organic compounds are primarily composed of carbon atoms bonded together with other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. These compounds are found in living organisms and are essential for life processes. In contrast, inorganic compounds do not require a vital force for synthesis as they are typically minerals or non-living substances. Dead and atomic compounds are not relevant to the synthesis of organic compounds.

The given statement suggests that scientists believed they were unable to create organic compounds and attributed their existence solely to God. This implies that the belief in the inability to synthesize organic compounds was true for scientists at that time.

Jöns Jacob Berzelius is the correct answer because he was a Swedish chemist who proposed the theory of vitalism. Vitalism suggests that living organisms are composed of a vital force or energy that distinguishes them from non-living matter. Berzelius believed that this vital force was responsible for the processes of life and could not be explained purely by chemical reactions. His theory had a significant impact on the understanding of biology and chemistry during his time.

The given statement is false. The theory of spontaneous generation, which suggested that organic compounds could be formed from inorganic compounds in the laboratory, has been disproven. It is now known that organic compounds are primarily formed through biological processes involving living organisms. Inorganic compounds, on the other hand, are typically formed through non-living processes such as chemical reactions.

The answer "All of the above" is correct because all the options mentioned - living organisms, natural organisms, and God-given organisms - can be considered to contain the vital force. This suggests that the vital force is present in all types of organisms, regardless of their origin or nature.

Vitalism is a concept that suggests the existence of a vital principle or life force that distinguishes living organisms from non-living matter. In this context, the element that is associated with vitalism is energy. Energy is often considered as the vital principle that animates living beings and drives their biological processes. It is the force that enables organisms to perform actions and maintain their vital functions. Therefore, energy is the most appropriate choice among the given options to describe the element associated with vitalism.

The principle of the vital force theory states that only living organisms (God-given) contain this vital force. This means that organic compounds cannot be made in the laboratory from inorganic compounds, and their synthesis requires a vital force. However, the statement that energy could be isolated to create the vital force contradicts the principle of the theory. Therefore, it was not a principle of the vital force theory.

Berzelius proposed the theory in 1815.

The theory of vitalism declined in 1828.