An experiment to prove that organic compounds were the basis of life, was performed by

Options

A. Von Helmont
B. Oparin: Coacervate
C. S. Miller
D. Fox

Answer

To answer the question regarding which scientist performed an experiment to prove that organic compounds were the basis of life, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Experiment**: The experiment that aimed to demonstrate that organic compounds were the basis of life is known as the Miller-Urey experiment.

**Hint**: Remember the name of the experiment and the year it was conducted.

2. **Recall the Year of the Experiment**: The Miller-Urey experiment was conducted in 1953.

**Hint**: Think about significant scientific experiments related to the origin of life that occurred in the 1950s.

3. **Understand the Components Used**: The experiment involved a mixture of gases that were thought to be present in the early Earth's atmosphere, including ammonia, hydrogen, water vapor, and methane.

**Hint**: Consider what gases are essential for the formation of organic compounds.

4. **Determine the Purpose of the Experiment**: The goal of the Miller-Urey experiment was to prove that organic compounds could be synthesized from inorganic compounds under conditions that simulated the early Earth.

**Hint**: Focus on the relationship between organic and inorganic compounds in the context of life's origins.

5. **Identify the Scientist**: The scientist who conducted this experiment is Stanley Miller (often referred to simply as S. Miller).

**Hint**: Recall the names of scientists associated with the Miller-Urey experiment.

6. **Evaluate the Options**: The options provided were:
- Von Helmont
- O'Ferrin-Kosser-Witt
- S. Miller
- Sidney Fox

After analyzing each option:
- Von Helmont studied plant growth, not organic compounds.
- O'Ferrin-Kosser-Witt proposed the Conservate theory, which is not directly related to the experiment.
- Sidney Fox explored amino acid synthesis but did not conduct the Miller-Urey experiment.

**Hint**: Eliminate options based on their contributions to the field of biology and their relevance to the experiment in question.

7. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is **S. Miller**, as he was the scientist who performed the experiment demonstrating that organic compounds were the basis of life.

### Final Answer:
The experiment to prove that organic compounds were the basis of life was performed by **S. Miller**.