The light emitted by firefly is due to

examrobotsa's picture
Q: 104 (CDS-II/2009)
The light emitted by firefly is due to

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

CDS-II

stats: 

0,20,11,2,20,6,3

keywords: 

{'photoelectric process': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'firefly': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'chemiluminiscence process': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'radioactive substance': [0, 1, 1, 0], 'light': [16, 4, 34, 62], 'phosphorus': [1, 0, 1, 0]}

The correct answer is option 2: chemiluminescence process.

Option 1 states that the light emitted by fireflies is due to a radioactive substance. This is incorrect. The light emitted by fireflies is not a result of radioactive decay.

Option 3 suggests that the light emitted by fireflies is due to a photoelectric process. While some organisms, such as plants, use a photoelectric process to convert light energy into chemical energy, fireflies do not use this process to emit light.

Option 4 states that the light emitted by fireflies is due to burning of phosphorus. This is incorrect. Fireflies do not produce light through a combustion reaction.

The correct answer, option 2, explains that fireflies emit light through a process called chemiluminescence. This process involves a chemical reaction within the firefly`s body that produces light without any significant heat. Fireflies have special organs in their abdomens that contain luciferin, a pigment, and luciferase, an enzyme. When luciferin reacts with oxygen in the presence of luciferase and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), light is produced. This is what causes fireflies to glow.