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This is a list of molecules that have been detected in the interstellar medium, grouped by the number of component atoms. The chemical formula is listed for each detected compound, along with any ionized form that has also been observed.
Detection
The molecules listed below were detected by spectroscopy. Their spectral features are generated by transitions of component electrons between different energy levels, or by rotational or vibrational spectra. Detection usually occurs in radio, microwave, or infrared portions of the spectrum.1 The first such molecule to be detected in the interstellar medium was the methylidyne radical (CH) in 1937.2
Interstellar molecules are formed by chemical reactions within very sparse interstellar or circumstellar clouds of dust and gas. Usually this occurs when a molecule becomes ionized, often as the result of an interaction with a cosmic ray. This positively-charged molecule then draws in a nearby reactant by electrostatic attraction of the neutral molecule's electrons. Molecules can also be generated by reactions between neutral atoms and molecules, although this process is generally slower.3
A particularly large and rich region for detecting interstellar molecules is Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2). This giant molecular cloud lies near the center of the Milky Way galaxy and is a frequent target for new searches. About half of the molecules listed below were first found near Sgr B2, and nearly every other molecule has since been detected in this feature.4
Molecules
The following tables list molecules that have been detected in the interstellar medium, grouped by the number of component atoms. If there is no entry in the Molecule column, only the ionized form has been detected. For molecules where no designation was given in the scientific literature, that field is left empty.
Diatomic
The
H3+ cation is one of the most abundant ions in the universe. It was first detected in 1993.
3031
Triatomic
Formaldehyde is an organic molecule that is widely distributed in the interstellar medium.
53
Four atoms
Five atoms
Six atoms
Seven atoms
Eight atoms
Nine atoms
Ten or more atoms
Deuterated molecules
- See also: Deuterium
These molecules all contain a deuterium atom.
Unconfirmed
The following molecules have been reported as detected in scientific literature, but they have not yet been confirmed through subsequent searches.
See also
References
- ^ Shu, Frank H. (1982). The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy. University Science Books. ISBN 0935702059.
- ^ Woon, D. E. (May, 2005). "Methylidyne radical". The Astrochemist. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
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- ^ S. E. Cummins, R. A. Linke, P. Thaddeus (1986). "A survey of the millimeter-wave spectrum of Sagittarius B2". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 60: 819–878. doi:10.1086/191102, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1986ApJS...60..819C. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
- ^ "The Structure of Molecular Cloud Cores". Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, University of Kent. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
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- ^ a b c J. Cernicharo, M. Guelin (1987). "Metals in IRC+10216 - Detection of NaCl, AlCl, and KCl, and tentative detection of AlF". Astronomy and Astrophysics 183 (1): L10–L12, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987A&A...183L..10C.
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- ^ D. L. Lambert, Y. Sheffer, S. R. Federman (1995). "Hubble Space Telescope observations of C2 molecules in diffuse interstellar clouds". Astrophysical Journal 438: 740–749. doi:10.1086/175119, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995ApJ...438..740L.
- ^ a b c G. A. Galazutdinov, F. A. Musaev, J. Krelowski (2001). "On the detection of the linear C5 molecule in the interstellar medium". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 325: 1332–1334. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04388.x, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2001MNRAS.325.1332G. Retrieved on 4 February 2007.
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- ^ a b Adams, Walter S. (1941). "Some Results with the COUDÉ Spectrograph of the Mount Wilson Observatory". Astrophysical Journal 93: 11–23. doi:10.1086/144237, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1941ApJ....93...11A. Retrieved on 13 February 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, D. (1988). "Formation and Destruction of Molecular Ions in Interstellar Clouds". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 324 (1578): 257–273. doi:10.1098/rsta.1988.0016, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988RSPTA.324..257S. Retrieved on 13 February 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g A. Fuente, S. García-Burillo, M. Gerin, D. Teyssier, A. Usero, J. R. Rizzo, P. de Vicente (2005). "Photon-dominated Chemistry in the Nucleus of M82: Widespread HOC+ Emission in the Inner 650 Parsec Disk". Astrophysical Journal 619 (2): L155–L158. doi:10.1086/427990, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005ApJ...619L.155F.
- ^ a b M. Guelin, J. Cernicharo, G. Paubert, B. E. Turner (1990). "Free CP in IRC + 10216". Astronomy and Astrophysics 230: L9–L11, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990A&A...230L...9G.
- ^ W. B. Latter, C. K. Walker, P. R. Maloney (1993). "Detection of the Carbon Monoxide Ion (CO+) in the Interstellar Medium and a Planetary Nebula". Astrophysical Journal Letters 419: L97. doi:10.1086/187146, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993ApJ...419L..97L.
- ^ R. S. Furuya, C. M. Walmsley, K. Nakanishi, P. Schilke, R. Bachiller (2003). "Interferometric observations of FeO towards Sagittarius B2". Astronomy and Astrophysics 409: L21–L24. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20031304, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003A&A...409L..21F. Retrieved on 13 February 2007.
- ^ Adams, Walter S. (1970). "Rocket Observation of Interstellar Molecular Hydrogen". Astrophysical Journal 161: L81–L85. doi:10.1086/180575, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1970ApJ...161L..81C. Retrieved on 13 February 2007.
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- ^ D. M. Meyer, K. C. Roth (1991). "Discovery of interstellar NH". Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters 376: L49–L52. doi:10.1086/186100, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1991ApJ...376L..49M. Retrieved on 13 February 2007.
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