Question

What was the function and importance of S-necked flasks in Louis Pasteur’s experiments in disproving spontaneous generation?

Answer 1

Answer:

The S naked flasks allowed the air to pass into the flask, but the curve design retained any airborne microorganism that contaminate the broth

Explanation:

• The theory of spontaneous generation supported the idea that new living organisms arise spontaneously from non living matter.

• This theory was disapproved by the experiments conducted by Louis Pasteur.

• In his set of experiments, Pasteur took two flasks in which he added nutrient broths.

• He bent the neck of the flasks containing the broth into an S-shape and then boiled the broth in order to kill any microbe that was present in the broth.

• After this, Pasteur broke off the S shape neck of one flask but not the other. This led the first flask to come into contact with air and also allowed microbes and dust particles to contaminate the broth.

• After a few days, it was observed that the broth in the broken neck flask became cloudy indicating microbial growth while the broth in the other S-shaped neck flask showed no growth.

• This was possible because the S shaped neck flask did not allow any microbe to contaminate the broth.