The following scientist introduced a new concept “vitamin” – “vital amine”:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Casimir Funk coined the term "vitamine" in 1912, deriving it from "vital amine" because he believed the unknown protective dietary substances were amines essential for life.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts:
- The term "vitamin" comes from early 20th-century work on deficiency diseases (beriberi, scurvy, pellagra).
- Casimir Funk (Polish biochemist) isolated a substance from rice bran that prevented beriberi and proposed that such substances were essential for life; he named them "vitamines" (vital + amine).
- Later research showed not all these substances were amines, so the final "e" was dropped and the modern term became "vitamin."
- Other historical figures: James Lind (scurvy clinical trial, 18th century), Frederick Hopkins (demonstrated existence of accessory dietary factors), Ilia Mechnikoff (phagocytosis, immunity/probiotics), Linus Pauling (advocated vitamin C megadoses).

2) Step-by-step reasoning:
- Historical record: In 1912 Funk published work linking beriberi to lack of a dietary factor and proposed the name "vitamine."
- He hypothesized these factors were amines and vital for life—hence the compound word "vital amine."
- Subsequent chemical characterization showed some vitamins were not amines; nomenclature was adjusted to "vitamin."
- Because Funk explicitly introduced and named the concept, he is credited with coining the term.

3) Calculations: none required.

4) Why the correct answer is correct:
- Funk both proposed the deficiency concept for certain diseases and introduced the specific term "vitamine" (vital amine) in his 1912 publications, making him the originator of the term.

5) Why other options are incorrect:
- James Lind performed early scurvy trials (1747) but did not coin the term vitamin.
- Frederick Hopkins demonstrated the existence of accessory food factors (helped establish vitamins scientifically) but did not coin the term.
- Ilia Mechnikoff worked on immunity and probiotics, not on naming vitamins.
- Linus Pauling was a 20th-century chemist who promoted vitamin C therapy but did not originate the term.

Conclusion: The correct answer is a. Casimir Funk, which matches the provided answer.

The following scientist introduced a new concept “vitamin” – “vital amine”:Single choice

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