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The formation of HCS and HCSH molecules and their role in the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter

Journal Article · · Science
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., CA (United States)

The reaction of hydrogen sulfide with ground-state atomic carbon was examined with crossed molecular beams experiments and ab initio calculations. The thiohydroxycarbene molecule, HCSH, was the reactive intermediate, which fragmented into atomic hydrogen and the thioformyl radical HCS. This finding may account for the unassigned HCS source and an unidentified HCSH radical needed to match observed CS abundances from the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 into Jupiter. In the shocked jovian atmosphere, HCS could further decompose to H and CS, and CS could react with SH and OH to yield the observed CS{sub 2} and COS. 23 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

OSTI ID:
621399
Journal Information:
Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 5354 Vol. 279; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English