Astrochemistry: The Physical Chemistry of the Universe

A fully revised new edition of an introductory text to the dynamic and fascinating subject of astrochemistry Since the first edition in 2006 of Astrochemistry, the Mars rovers have driven 31.18 miles, there has been fly-by of Pluto changing it from a 4-pixel world on the Hubble Space Telescope into a mysterious non-planet. There have been visits to asteroids, revisiting Mercury, discovery of the Higgs Boson, discovery of over 2000 extrasolar planets and landing on the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko by Rosetta mission – hence the timely publication of this new edition. This core textbook now includes more detailed information on the kinetic modelling of chemistry in the interstellar medium, extending the same principles of physical chemistry to meteor ablation and finally atmospheres and oceans. The increase in density from near-emptiness to 1.35 x 1021 L of water in the world's oceans is used to take single collision kinetics into ensemble thermodynamics. A new introduction of thermodynamic using meteor ablation replaces traditional bomb calorimetry and per-biotic chemistry leads to spontaneous reactions. New to the second edition: An extended discussion on matter, dark or otherwise, interstellar and stellar chemistry and the origin of pre-biotic molecules Detailed chemical kinetic models for mechanisms of chemistry in the interstellar medium Origins of life in solution, enzyme kinetics and catalysis A review of Mars and Titan as habitats for life Fully referenced throughout to reflect the research frontier An introduction to the idea of analytical mathematical engines that can do all of the heavy mathematics and fostering the skill of setting up a model and testing it 200 problems with detailed solutions Written for undergraduate and postgraduate students in astrochemistry or more generally physical chemistry, the new edition of Astrochemistry is an important introductory text to the topic, the latest developments in the field and the ubiquity of physical chemistry.

Table of Contents:
Preface to the First Edition ix Preface to the Second Edition xiii About the Companion Website xvii 1 The Molecular Universe 1 1.1 The Standard Model – Big Bang Theory 2 1.2 Galaxies, Stars, and Planets 5 1.3 Origins of Life 6 1.4 Other Intelligent Life 11 1.5 Theories of the Origin of Life 13 1.6 The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) 15 Problems 16 References 16 2 Starlight, Galaxies, and Clusters 19 2.1 Simple Stellar Models – Black-Body Radiation 19 2.2 Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation: 2.725 K 25 2.3 Stellar Classification 27 2.4 Constellations 35 2.5 Galaxies 40 2.6 Cosmology 46 Problems 48 References 51 3 Atomic and Molecular Astronomy 53 3.1 Spectroscopy and the Structure of Matter 53 3.2 Line Shape 59 3.3 Telescopes 65 3.4 Atomic Spectroscopy 74 3.5 Molecular Astronomy 78 3.6 Molecular Masers 97 3.7 Detection of Hydrogen 99 3.8 Diffuse Interstellar Bands 100 3.9 Spectral Mapping 102 Problems 103 References 106 4 Stellar Chemistry 109 4.1 Classes of Stars 111 4.2 Herzprung–Russell Diagram 112 4.3 Stellar Evolution 113 4.4 Stellar Spectra 123 4.5 Exotic Stars 131 4.6 Cycle of Star Formation 138 Problems 139 References 142 5 The Interstellar Medium 145 5.1 Mapping Clouds of Molecules 146 5.2 Molecules in the Interstellar and Circumstellar Medium 152 5.3 Physical Conditions in the Interstellar Medium 156 5.4 Rates of Chemical Reactions 160 5.5 Chemical Reactions in the Interstellar Medium 170 5.6 Photochemistry 173 5.7 Charged Particle Chemistry 176 5.8 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons 176 5.9 Dust Grains 180 5.10 Chemical Models of Molecular Clouds 185 5.11 Running the Models 192 5.12 Prebiotic Molecules in the Interstellar Medium 194 Problems 199 References 204 6 Meteorite and Comet Chemistry 207 6.1 Phases of Matter, Heat, and Change 208 6.2 Meteor Ablation 213 6.3 Enthalpy of Reaction 219 6.4 Formation of the Solar System 223 6.5 Classification of Meteorites 226 6.6 Geological Time 231 6.7 Chemical Analysis of Meteorites by 𝜇L2MS 235 6.8 Comet Chemistry 247 6.9 Chemical Composition of Comets 252 6.10 Cometary Collisions with Planets 257 6.11 The Rosetta Mission 259 Problems 263 References 270 7 Planetary Chemistry 275 7.1 Structure of a Star–Planet System 276 7.2 Surface Gravity 278 7.3 Formation of the Earth 280 7.4 Earth–Moon System 283 7.5 Geological Periods 285 7.6 Radiative Heating 287 7.7 The Habitable Zone 289 7.8 Detecting Extrasolar Planets 291 7.9 Extrasolar Planets – The Current Inventory 293 7.10 Planetary Atmospheres 295 7.11 Atmospheric Photochemistry 304 7.12 Biomarkers in the Atmosphere 310 Problems 311 References 317 8 Prebiotic Chemistry 319 8.1 Carbon- and Water-Based Life Forms 319 8.2 Solvent Properties 320 8.3 Spontaneous Chemical Reactions 321 8.4 Acid–Base Buffers 332 8.5 Prebiotic Molecular Inventory 335 8.6 Exogenous Delivery of Organic Molecules 345 8.7 Homochirality 346 8.8 Surface Metabolism 350 8.9 Geothermal Vents 353 8.10 RNA World Hypothesis 356 Problems 358 References 362 9 Primitive Life Forms 365 9.1 Self-Assembly and Encapsulation 366 9.2 Protocells 370 9.3 Enzyme Catalysis 379 9.4 Universal Tree of Life 380 9.5 Astrobiology 383 9.6 Subsurface Antarctic Lakes – Astrobiological Time Capsules 390 Problems 391 References 396 10 Mars and Titan – Habitats for Life? 399 10.1 Solar System Habitats 399 10.2 Biosignatures 400 10.3 Contamination 404 10.4 Mars 405 10.5 Titan 408 10.6 Physical-Chemical Properties and the Radiation Budget 409 10.7 Temperature-Dependent Chemistry 414 10.8 The Atmospheres 416 10.9 Astrobiology on Mars and Titan 427 10.10 And Finally 430 Problems 430 References 437 Appendix A: Constants and Units 441 Appendix B: Astronomical Data 443 Appendix C: Thermodynamic Properties of Selected Compounds 445 Solutions to Problems 447 Index 475

About the Author :
Andrew M. Shaw, PhD, is Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Exeter, UK. Professor Shaw’s research concentrates on quantitative descriptions of physical chemistry interpreted with fully mechanistic mathematical models.