Kinetic inhibition of CO and N/sub 2/ reduction in the solar nebula

Journal Article · Thu May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/157992· OSTI ID:5126407

Lewis, J S; Prinn, R G

It is shown that the conversion of CO to methane and of N/sub 2/ to ammonia in the primitive solar nebula was probably so slow relative to radial mixing rates or nebula evolutionary rates that only small amounts of NH/sub 3/ and CH/sub 4/ could have been present. Thus most of the nitrogen was present as N/sub 2/ and most ot the carbon as CO and CO/sub 2/ throughout the nebula. The consequences of this kinetic effect upon the composition of cometary ices and of the Jovian planets, the melting and outgassing behavior of ice-rich planetary satellites, and the abundance of carbon in the terrestrial planets are briefly discussed.

• Research Organization: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• OSTI ID: 5126407
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 238:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
ALKANES
AMMONIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
METHANE
NEBULAE
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
REDUCTION
SOLAR NEBULA
SOLAR SYSTEM
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
SPACE