Organics Produced by Irradiation of Frozen and Liquid HCN Solutions: Implications for Chemical Evolution Studies
Por:
Colin-Garcia, M, Negron-Mendoza, A, Ramos-Bernal, S
Publicada:
1 abr 2009
Resumen:
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), an important precursor of organic compounds, is widely present in extraterrestrial environments. HCN is also readily synthesized in prebiotic simulation experiments. To gain insight into the radiation chemistry of one of the most important and highly versatile constituents of cometary ices, we examined the behavior of over-irradiated frozen and liquid HCN solutions under ionizing radiation. The samples were exposed to gamma radiation at a dose range from 0 up to 419 kGy. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography were used to follow the process. The analyses confirmed that gamma-ray irradiation of liquid HCN solutions generates several organic products. Many of them are essential to life; we verified the presence of carboxylic acids (some of them members of the Krebs cycle) as well as free amino acids and urea. These are the first studies to reveal the presence of these compounds in experiments performed at low temperatures and bulk irradiation. Organic mat
Filiaciones:
Colin-Garcia, M:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ciencias Nucl, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Negron-Mendoza, A:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ciencias Nucl, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Ramos-Bernal, S:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ciencias Nucl, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
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