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The missing organic molecules on Mars.

S A Benner1, K G Devine, L N Matveeva

  • 1Departments of Chemistry, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. benner@chem.ufl.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 8, 2000
PubMed
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Viking missions found no organic molecules on Mars, suggesting a strong oxidant. However, stable organic salts, like mellitic acid, may exist and were missed by GC-MS, potentially impacting future Mars exploration.

Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Astrobiology
  • Organic Geochemistry

Background:

  • Viking GC-MS experiments on Mars did not detect organic molecules.
  • This led to the hypothesis of a potent oxidant in the Martian regolith.
  • This conclusion influences current Mars mission designs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Reexamine the conclusion of a highly oxidizing Martian surface.
  • Investigate the fate of meteoritic organic compounds under Martian conditions.
  • Assess the detectability of potential organic molecules by Viking experiments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of general organic compound oxidation.
  • Analysis of likely meteoritic organics on Mars.
  • Experimental generation and stability testing of benzenehexacarboxylic acid (mellitic acid).
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

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Main Results:

  • Nonvolatile salts of benzenecarboxylic acids (e.g., mellitic acid) are likely metastable intermediates.
  • These salts would have been largely invisible to Viking's Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS).
  • Mellitic acid is generated from known Martian organic precursors and is relatively stable to further oxidation.

Conclusions:

  • The Martian surface may not be as strongly oxidizing as previously assumed.
  • Significant amounts of organic molecules, like mellitic acid, may exist near the Martian surface.
  • Future missions should search for these organics, recognizing their potential as a resource and their impact on the search for extraterrestrial life.