A quantitative assay of biologically important compounds in simulated primitive earth experiments

Abstract

A CH 4- N 2- H 2 O v gas mixture was subjected to a high voltage (20 kV), high frequency (0.3 MHz) electric discharge. The energy input in the electric discharge was varied from 0.016 to 3.048 MJ·mol −1. The chemical yields ( G), expressed as the number of molecules formed or destroyed per 100 eV of energy input were calculated for several products. The G values calculated at the lowest energy input were (- CH 4) = 6.48; (- N 2) = 2.51; ( C 2 H 2) = 1.16; ( HCN) = 0.215; ( CH 3 CHO) = 0.115; ( CH 3 CH 2 CHO) = 0.00161; ( CH 3( CH 2) 2 CHO) = 0.0165; (( CH 2 CO 2 H) 2) = 0.0000339; ( CH 4 → Solid material) = 0.196; ( N 2 → Solid material) = 0.00355. This is the first report in prebiotic studies in which the G values of various products in electric discharge experiments are determined. This type of study is needed in order to get a better insight into the relative role of electric discharges on the primitive Earth.