Abstract Attention is called to the photodynamic and thermodynamic properties of Periodic Group IIb elements, most notably Hg, as they relate to ultra-violet sensitization in organic chemical reactions. The energy levels of $ 6^{1} $P1 and $ 6^{3} $P1 resonance states and the high vapor pressure (>$ 10^{−3} $ mm) of the metal at temperatures as low as 293 K bring Hg with the range of bond dissociation energies in most organic molecules and many inorganics. These capabilities considered together with recent evidence for Hg emission as a regular part of volcanic and geothermal processes provide the basis for our proposal that Hg-sensitized ultraviolet photo-reactions may have played a significant part in abiogenetic organic synthesis on the primative earth.


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    Title :

    Vulcanism, mercury-sensitized photo-reactions and abiogenetic synthesis: A theoretical treatment


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1976




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    Local classification TIB:    535/3908/4290
    BKL:    44.71 Verkehrsmedizin