In the atmosphere of the primitive earth there was no ________
A
Oxygen
B
Carbon dioxide
C
Nitrogen
D
Ammonia
Correct Answer: Oxygen
For decades, scientists believed that the atmosphere of early Earth was highly reduced, meaning that oxygen was greatly limited. By 2.7 billion years ago, a new kind of life had established itself: photosynthetic microbes called cyanobacteria, which were capable of using the Sun's energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into food with oxygen gas as a waste product.