They are single-celled organisms that comprise cells with distinct properties that make them unique from the other two domains of life, namely Eukaryota and Bacteria. They can thrive in extreme environmental conditions, such as hot springs, salt lakes, etc.
They use numerous sources of energy and display a diverse array of chemical reactions in metabolism. Based on reactions, they are categorized into nutritional groups depending on carbon sources and energy. One group of archaea uses sunlight as a source of energy. They are termed phototrophs. But none of these organisms show oxygenic photosynthesis.
The other forms of archaea use inorganic compounds as a source of energy, namely ammonia or sulphur. They are called chemotrophs. They either include anaerobic methane oxidizers, nitrifiers, and methanogens. This reaction involves two compounds where one compound acts as an electron acceptor and the other as an electron donor. The energy that is released during the reaction releases ATP – adenosine triphosphate
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