Researchers are uncovering how a poisonous chemical could have helped life emerge.
A chemical that is deadly to humans may have contributed to the earliest steps toward life on Earth. Hydrogen cyanide can freeze into solid crystals at low temperatures. Computer modeling work reported in ACS Central Science shows that certain crystal surfaces are highly reactive, allowing chemical reactions to occur that normally would not happen in such cold conditions. Researchers suggest these reactions may have triggered a chain process that produced several of the fundamental building blocks of life.
“We may never know precisely how life began, but understanding how some of its ingredients take shape is within reach. Hydrogen cyanide is likely one source of this chemical complexity, and we show that it can react surprisingly quickly in cold places,” says Martin Rahm, the corresponding author of the study.
Hydrogen Cyanide in Space and Prebiotic Chemistry
Hydrogen cyanide is common in environments beyond Earth. It has been found on comets and in the atmospheres of planets and moons (e.g., Saturn’s moon Titan). When hydrogen cyanide comes into contact with water, it can give rise to polymers, amino acids, and nucleobases (components of proteins and DNA strands, respectively). To better understand how this molecule behaves under frozen conditions, Marco Capelletti, Hilda Sandström and Martin Rahm used computer simulations to study solid hydrogen cyanide.
Simulating Crystal Shapes Seen in Nature
In the simulations, the team modeled a stable hydrogen cyanide crystal as a cylinder about 450 nanometers long. The structure included a rounded base and a top with multiple flat faces, similar in appearance to a cut gemstone. According to the researchers, this geometry matches earlier observations of crystal formations described as “cobwebs” that spread outward from a central point where the multifaceted ends meet.
Unexpected Chemical Activity in Extreme Cold
The calculations showed that these frozen crystals could promote chemical reactions that rarely occur in extremely cold environments. By analyzing the chemistry of the crystal surfaces, the researchers identified two reaction routes that could convert hydrogen cyanide into hydrogen isocyanide, a more reactive compound.
Depending on the temperature, this transformation could take place within minutes or over several days. The presence of hydrogen isocyanide on the crystal surface suggests that even more complex prebiotic precursors could form in these regions.
Next Steps Toward Experimental Tests
The researchers hope their predictions will be tested in laboratory experiments. One possible approach would involve crushing hydrogen cyanide crystals in the presence of substances like water. Exposing fresh crystal surfaces could reveal whether these surfaces truly encourage the formation of complex molecules at extremely low temperatures.
#AnalyticalChemistry, #ScienceOfSolutions, #ChemicalAnalysis, #Spectroscopy, #Chromatography, #LabScience, #PrecisionMatters, #ScienceInEveryDrop, #ChemistryMatters, #InnovationThroughAnalysis
For More Details
🌎Visit Our Website : analyticalchemistry.org
✉️Contact Us: mail@analyticalchemistry.org
Get Connected Here:
=====================
Youtube : www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6A6Sa-eyg5RiG0kkQ5VaA
Twitter : x.com/ChemistryAwards
Facebook : www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566931868357
Pinterest : in.pinterest.com/analyticalchemistry25
Blog : analyticalchemistryawards.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment