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Multiple Choice

What is a chemotroph?

Chemotrophs obtain their energy from chemical compounds rather than from light. They generate energy by oxidizing various chemical substrates, which can be inorganic (chemolithotrophs) or organic (chemorganotrophs). The carbon source is a separate attribute (autotrophs vs. heterotrophs), but the defining feature here is using chemical energy. Using light would describe phototrophs, and using organic carbon describes heterotrophs, but neither defines how the energy is obtained. Therefore, deriving energy by oxidizing chemical compounds best identifies a chemotroph.

Chemotrophs obtain their energy from chemical compounds rather than from light. They generate energy by oxidizing various chemical substrates, which can be inorganic (chemolithotrophs) or organic (chemorganotrophs). The carbon source is a separate attribute (autotrophs vs. heterotrophs), but the defining feature here is using chemical energy. Using light would describe phototrophs, and using organic carbon describes heterotrophs, but neither defines how the energy is obtained. Therefore, deriving energy by oxidizing chemical compounds best identifies a chemotroph.