Pasteur Used Swan-Neck Flasks in His Experiments to Prove That

Question

Pasteur used swan-neck flasks in his experiments to prove that
A)air had "vital forces" capable of spontaneous generation.
B)microbial fermentation could be used to make wine.
C)dust in air was a source of living microorganisms.
D)microorganisms could cause disease.
E)microorganisms could be grown in laboratory infusions.

Accepted Answer

Swan-neck flasks were used by Pasteur in his experiment to prove that dust in the air was a source of living microorganisms. The flask had a curved neck that prevented dust and other particles from entering the flask but still allowed air to flow in and out. When the contents of the flask were sterilized, no microorganisms grew inside the flask. However, when the neck of the flask was broken, the contents became contaminated with microorganisms from the air, proving that they were present in the dust.