AbstractMixtures of molecular nitrogen and methane have been identified in numerous outer Solar Systemices including the icy surfaces of Pluto and Triton. We have simulated the interaction of ionizing radiation in the Solar System by carrying out a radiolysis experiment on a methane – molecular nitrogen ice mixture with energetic electrons. We have identified the hydrogen cyanide molecule as the most prominent carbon–nitrogen-bearing reaction product formed. Upon warming the irradiated sample, we followed for the first time the kinetics and temporal evolution of the underlying acid–base chemistry which resulted in the formation of the cyanide ion from hydrogen cyanide. On the surfaces of Triton and Pluto and on comets in Oort’s cloud this sort of complex chemistry is likely to occur. In particular, hydrogen cyanide can be produced in low temperature environments (Oort cloud comets) and may be converted into cyanide ions once the comets reach the warmer regions of the Solar System.
A laboratory study on the thermally induced transformation of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to the cyanogen anion (CN−) in Solar System analog ices
Advances in Space Research ; 43 , 9 ; 1446-1450
2009-01-15
5 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Secondary-electron yields of solar system ICES
Elsevier | 1993
|Comparison Between Astronomical and Laboratory Spectra of Ices
British Library Online Contents | 1997
|Gaseous Fuels Containing Hydrogen in ICEs
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006
|Complex Organics in Laboratory Simulations of Interstellar/Cometary Ices
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|