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Chemical model for Viking biology experiments - Implications for the composition of the Martian regolithThe labelled-release and the gas-exchange experiments of the 1976 Mars Viking biology experiment program detected, respectively, C-14 labelled gases and O2 gas. A chemical model is proposed here for these experiments in which the reactants are an inorganic nitrate salt which has been partly photolyzed by ultraviolet light and a sparingly soluble metal carbonate such as calcite. The model reproduces the main effects seen, indicating that nitrates are present in the Martian regolith as well as calcite (or some other carbonate with similar solubility).
Document ID
19890050196
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1038/338633a0
Authors
Plumb, Robert C. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Tantayanon, Rewat (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Libby, Mark (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Xu, Wen Wen (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
April 20, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 338
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
89A37567
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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