NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Carbon isotope composition of low molecular weight hydrocarbons and monocarboxylic acids from Murchison meteoriteCarbon isotopic compositions have been measured for individual hydrocarbons and monocarboxylic acids from the Murchison meteorite, a C2 carbonaceous chondrite which fell in Australia in 1969. With few exceptions, notably benzene, the volatile products are substantially isotopically heavier than their terrestrial counterparts, signifying their extraterrestrial origin. For both classes of compounds, the ratio of C-13 to C-12 decreases with increasing carbon number in a roughly parallel manner, and each carboxylic acid exhibits a higher isotopic ratio than the hydrocarbon containing the same number of carbon atoms. These trends are consistent with the kinetically controlled synthesis of higher homologues from lower ones. The results suggest the possibility that the production mechanisms for hydrocarbons and carboxylic acids may be similar, and impose constraints on the identity of the reactant species.
Document ID
19840053907
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Yuen, G.
(Arizona State University Tempe, AZ, United States)
Blair, N.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field; Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States)
Des Marais, D. J.
(Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Chang, S.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 19, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 307
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
84A36694
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7255
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available