Purchase Solution

Silicon vs. Carbon Life Forms

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

In the movie, Lost in Space, spider-like creatures attacked members of the Robinson family as they explored an abandoned spaceship. Maureen (the mom) scans the creatures and reports that the spiders are silicon-based life-forms.

(1) If silicon-based life exists, would it be able to consume carbon-based life, digest it, and use the products as nutrients? Why or why not?

(2) Why do potential space explorers need to be able to produce all of the food that they will need, regardless of whether life is found elsewhere?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

The expert examines Silicon versus Carbon Life forms. Why potential spaces explores need to be able to produce all of the food that will need is determined.

Solution Preview

(1) If silicon-based life exists, would it be able to consume carbon-based life, digest it, and use the products as nutrients? Why or why not?

No, silicon-based life would not be able to consume carbon-based life.

Think about the opposite scenario: Could we (carbon-based life) eat silicon-based life?

We get our nutrients by digesting food to break it down into its constituent parts: amino acids (which have the molecular formula ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
The Transfer of Energy in an Ecosystem

This quiz will assess your knowledge of how energy is transferred in an ecosystem and the different levels of trophic organization.

The Plant Body

This quiz will test your knowledge of the anatomy of a common plant.

How Much Do You Know About Genetic Inheritance?

Most of us studied the basics of dominant and recessive genes at some point. However, genetics are much more complicated than this. How far beyond the basics does your knowledge go?

Human Anatomy- Reproductive System

Do you know your reproductive anatomy?

Breast Milk and Breastfeeding

How much do you know about breast milk and breastfeeding? Double check your knowledge level with this quiz!

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Could Silicon replace Carbon in Organic Chemistry?

    235247 Roles of Carbon and Silicon in Organic Chemistry Carbon and silicon belong to the same group and are known to have similar properties. Do you think that silicon can replace the role that carbon plays in organic chemistry?

  • William lycan

    materials, carbon and not silicon or iron.

  • Percent by mass calculation

    The production of pure silicon is a reduction reaction because carbon reduces silica to silicon. SiO2 + C → Si + CO2 The percent by mass calculations are determined.

  • Density and Melting Point

    The carbon family, group 14 in the p block, contains carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and Flerovirum (Fl) as one goes down the group.

  • Why are water and carbon essential to live?

    With the addition of phosphorus to these elements, it forms DNA and RNA, the chemical codes of life. The major element (note that water is not an element but is a compound) within our bodies is carbon.

  • What is formed with Germanium and Oxygen?

    Therefore, since silicon forms SiO2, we would conclude that Ge probably forms GeO2. The solution provides a brief description of what is formed with germanium and oxygen.

  • Organic vs. Silicon-Based Solar Cells

    503200 Organic vs. Silicon-Based Solar Cells Compare and contrast organic and present day silicon-based (inorganic) solar cells.

  • How do we know that someone living on Mars, could live on Earth?

    Otherwise it is believed that life could not exists on a planet having atmosphere which is harmful to the life forms. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.

  • Silanes and Inorganic Chemistry

    Describe the geometry and hybridization of the silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and carbon atoms in diphenylsilanediol and the tetrameric form diphenylsiloxane. 3.

View More Related Solutions