How did catalytic reactions contribute to the formation of early organic molecules?
Catalytic reactions played a pivotal role in the chemical evolution leading to life. In the reducing atmosphere of early Earth, catalysts such as metal ions and mineral surfaces facilitated the formation of simple organic compounds. For example, the Miller-Urey experiment demonstrated that electric sparks (simulating lightning) could catalyze the formation of amino acids from methane, ammonia, hydrogen, and water.
