Laboratory evidence for a key intermediate in the Venus atmosphere: Peroxychloroformyl radical

Holger Pernice, Placido Garcia, Helge Willner, Joseph S. Francisco, Franklin P. Mills, Mark Allen*, Yuk L. Yung

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    43 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    For two decades, the peroxychloroformyl radical, CIC(O)OO, has played a central role in models of the chemical stability of the Venus atmosphere. No confirmation, however, has been possible in the absence of laboratory measurements for CIC(O)OO. We report the isolation of CIC(O)OO in a cryogenic matrix and its infrared and ultraviolet spectral signatures. These experiments show that CIC(O)OO is thermally and photolytically stable in the Venus atmosphere. These experimental discoveries validate the existence of CIC(O)OO, confirm several longstanding model assumptions, and provide a basis for the astronomical search for this important radical species.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)14007-14010
    Number of pages4
    JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    Volume101
    Issue number39
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 28 Sept 2004

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