The fate of the hydroxyl radical in the Earth's primitive atmosphere and implications for the production of molecular oxygen

Abstract

We have examined the possible fates of the hydroxyl radical produced by the photolysis of water vapor in the earth's early atmosphere. Because of the substantial OH radical reactivity with trace species (CO, HCl, SO2, H2S, NH2, and CH2) the formation of molecular oxygen may be prevented, even at a trace species mixing ratio as low as 10−10. The photolysis rate of H2O, with corrections for hydrogen exospheric escape, is capable of describing the oxidation of the atmosphere and crust but may not be used to determine the rate of molecular oxygen generation without consideration of the various OH‐trace species reactions.