Kinetic inhibition of CO and N2 reduction in the solar nebula

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (229) References (26) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Kinetic inhibition of CO and N2 reduction in the solar nebula Lewis, J. S. ; Prinn, R. G. Abstract It is shown that the conversion of CO to methane and of N2 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 NH3 and CH4 could have been present. Thus most of the nitrogen was present as N2 and most of the carbon as CO and CO2 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. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1980 DOI: 10.1086/157992 Bibcode: 1980ApJ...238..357L Keywords: Carbon Monoxide; Interplanetary Gas; Nitrogen; Planetary Composition; Reaction Kinetics; Reduction (Chemistry); Solar System; Solar Wind; Stellar Evolution; Abundance; Ammonia; Carbon; Comets; Jupiter (Planet); Methane; Molecular Gases; Natural Satellites; Radial Velocity; Stellar Structure; Terrestrial Planets; Solar Physics full text sources ADS |