Question

The vital force theory was proposed by:
a.) Wohler
b.) Berthelot
c.) Berzelius
d.) Kolbe

Answer 1

Hint: Try to recall that the vital theory states that all organic compounds are naturally created and the synthesis of organic compounds is only possible from living plants and animals by vital force. Now, by using this you can easily find the correct option from the given options.

Complete step by step solution:
As the organic compounds were believed to be obtained from living organisms (plants and animals), a Swedish chemist Berzelius in 1815 proposed that organic compounds could not be prepared in the laboratory and could be only produced by some mysterious force existing in the living organisms, which was termed as ‘Vital Force’ (which comes from a latin word, ‘vita’ means ‘life’), and this theory is known as vital force theory.
According to the vital force theory:
All organic compounds were isolated (extracted) from living bodies (plants and animals).
The organic compounds were the products of a vital force and could not be synthesized in the laboratory.
The organic compounds did not obey the laws of chemical combination to which organic compounds were subjected.
Therefore, from above we can conclude that option C is the correct option for the given question.

Note: It should be remembered to you that in 1828, a German scientist Fredrick Wohler became the first person to synthesize an organic substance ‘urea’ from simple inorganic compounds. This defied the vital force theory and after that many organic compounds were synthesized in the laboratory.