1
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Nixon CA. The Composition and Chemistry of Titan's Atmosphere. ACS EARTH & SPACE CHEMISTRY 2024; 8:406-456. [PMID: 38533193 PMCID: PMC10961852 DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.2c00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
In this review I summarize the current state of knowledge about the composition of Titan's atmosphere and our current understanding of the suggested chemistry that leads to that observed composition. I begin with our present knowledge of the atmospheric composition, garnered from a variety of measurements including Cassini-Huygens, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and other ground- and space-based telescopes. This review focuses on the typical vertical profiles of gases at low latitudes rather than global and temporal variations. The main body of the review presents a chemical description of how complex molecules are believed to arise from simpler species, considering all known "stable" molecules-those that have been uniquely identified in the neutral atmosphere. The last section of the review is devoted to the gaps in our present knowledge of Titan's chemical composition and how further work may fill those gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor A. Nixon
- Planetary Systems Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United
States
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2
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Gelfand N, Komarova K, Remacle F, Levine RD. Nonadiabatic quantum dynamics explores non-monotonic photodissociation branching of N 2 into the N( 4S) + N( 2D) and N( 4S) + N( 2P) product channels. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:3274-3284. [PMID: 38197167 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04854c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation of N2 molecules is a source of reactive N atoms in the interstellar medium. In the energy range of VUV optical excitation of N2, the N-N triple bond cleavage leads to three types of atoms: ground-state N(4S) and excited-state N(2P) and N(2D). The latter is the highest reactive and it is believed to be the primary participant in reactions with hydrocarbons in Titan's atmosphere. Experimental studies have observed a non-monotonic energy dependence and non-statistical character of the photodissociation of N2. This implies different dissociation pathways and final atomic products for different wavelength regions in the sunlight spectrum. We here apply ab initio quantum chemical and nonadiabatic quantum dynamical techniques to follow the path of an electronic state from the excitation of a particular singlet 1Σ+u and 1Πu vibronic level of N2 to its dissociation into different atomic products. We simulate dynamics for two isotopomers of the nitrogen molecule, 14N2 and 14N15N for which experimental data on the branching are available. Our computations capture the non-monotonic energy dependence of the photodissociation branching ratios in the energy range 108 000-116 000 cm-1. Tracing the quantum dynamics in a bunch of electronic states enables us to identify the key components that determine the efficacy of singlet to triplet population transfer and therefore predissociation lifetimes and branching ratios for different energy regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gelfand
- The Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Ksenia Komarova
- The Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Francoise Remacle
- The Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
- Theoretical Physical Chemistry, UR MolSys B6c, University of Liège, B4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - R D Levine
- The Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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3
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Balucani N, Caracciolo A, Vanuzzo G, Skouteris D, Rosi M, Pacifici L, Casavecchia P, Hickson KM, Loison JC, Dobrijevic M. An experimental and theoretical investigation of the N( 2D) + C 6H 6 (benzene) reaction with implications for the photochemical models of Titan. Faraday Discuss 2023; 245:327-351. [PMID: 37293920 DOI: 10.1039/d3fd00057e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We report on a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the N(2D) + C6H6 (benzene) reaction, which is of relevance in the aromatic chemistry of the atmosphere of Titan. Experimentally, the reaction was studied (i) under single-collision conditions by the crossed molecular beams (CMB) scattering method with mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight analysis at the collision energy (Ec) of 31.8 kJ mol-1 to determine the primary products, their branching fractions (BFs), and the reaction micromechanism, and (ii) in a continuous supersonic flow reactor to determine the rate constant as a function of temperature from 50 K to 296 K. Theoretically, electronic structure calculations of the doublet C6H6N potential energy surface (PES) were performed to assist the interpretation of the experimental results and characterize the overall reaction mechanism. The reaction is found to proceed via barrierless addition of N(2D) to the aromatic ring of C6H6, followed by formation of several cyclic (five-, six-, and seven-membered ring) and linear isomeric C6H6N intermediates that can undergo unimolecular decomposition to bimolecular products. Statistical estimates of product BFs on the theoretical PES were carried out under the conditions of the CMB experiments and at the temperatures relevant for Titan's atmosphere. In all conditions the ring-contraction channel leading to C5H5 (cyclopentadienyl) + HCN is dominant, while minor contributions come from the channels leading to o-C6H5N (o-N-cycloheptatriene radical) + H, C4H4N (pyrrolyl) + C2H2 (acetylene), C5H5CN (cyano-cyclopentadiene) + H, and p-C6H5N + H. Rate constants (which are close to the gas kinetic limit at all temperatures, with the recommended value of 2.19 ± 0.30 × 10-10 cm3 s-1 over the 50-296 K range) and BFs have been used in a photochemical model of Titan's atmosphere to simulate the effect of the title reaction on the species abundances as a function of the altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Balucani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Adriana Caracciolo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Gianmarco Vanuzzo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | | | - Marzio Rosi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06100, Perugia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Pacifici
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Piergiorgio Casavecchia
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Kevin M Hickson
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, F-33400 Talence, France
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4
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Liang P, de Aragão EVF, Giani L, Mancini L, Pannacci G, Marchione D, Vanuzzo G, Faginas-Lago N, Rosi M, Skouteris D, Casavecchia P, Balucani N. OH( 2Π) + C 2H 4 Reaction: A Combined Crossed Molecular Beam and Theoretical Study. J Phys Chem A 2023. [PMID: 37207281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c08662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The reaction between the ground-state hydroxyl radical, OH(2Π), and ethylene, C2H4, has been investigated under single-collision conditions by the crossed molecular beam scattering technique with mass-spectrometric detection and time-of-flight analysis at the collision energy of 50.4 kJ/mol. Electronic structure calculations of the underlying potential energy surface (PES) and statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations of product branching fractions on the derived PES for the addition pathway have been performed. The theoretical results indicate a temperature-dependent competition between the anti-/syn-CH2CHOH (vinyl alcohol) + H, CH3CHO (acetaldehyde) + H, and H2CO (formaldehyde) + CH3 product channels. The yield of the H-abstraction channel could not be quantified with the employed methods. The RRKM results predict that under our experimental conditions, the anti- and syn-CH2CHOH + H product channels account for 38% (in similar amounts) of the addition mechanism yield, the H2CO + CH3 channel for ∼58%, while the CH3CHO + H channel is formed in negligible amount (<4%). The implications for combustion and astrochemical environments are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxiao Liang
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Emília Valença Ferreira de Aragão
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
- Master-Tec Srl, Via Sicilia, 41, Perugia 06128, Italy
| | - Lisa Giani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
- Université Grenoble Alpes, 621 Av. Centrale, Saint-Martin-d'Hères 38400, France
| | - Luca Mancini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pannacci
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Demian Marchione
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Vanuzzo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Noelia Faginas-Lago
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
- Master-Tec Srl, Via Sicilia, 41, Perugia 06128, Italy
| | - Marzio Rosi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile Ed Ambientale, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06125, Italy
| | | | - Piergiorgio Casavecchia
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Nadia Balucani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
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5
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Vanuzzo G, Mancini L, Pannacci G, Liang P, Marchione D, Recio P, Tan Y, Rosi M, Skouteris D, Casavecchia P, Balucani N, Hickson KM, Loison JC, Dobrijevic M. Reaction N( 2D) + CH 2CCH 2 (Allene): An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation and Implications for the Photochemical Models of Titan. ACS EARTH & SPACE CHEMISTRY 2022; 6:2305-2321. [PMID: 36303717 PMCID: PMC9589905 DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.2c00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We report on a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the N(2D) + CH2CCH2 (allene) reaction of relevance in the atmospheric chemistry of Titan. Experimentally, the reaction was investigated (i) under single-collision conditions by the crossed molecular beams (CMB) scattering method with mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight analysis at the collision energy (E c) of 33 kJ/mol to determine the primary products and the reaction micromechanism and (ii) in a continuous supersonic flow reactor to determine the rate constant as a function of temperature from 50 to 296 K. Theoretically, electronic structure calculations of the doublet C3H4N potential energy surface (PES) were performed to assist the interpretation of the experimental results and characterize the overall reaction mechanism. The reaction is found to proceed via barrierless addition of N(2D) to one of the two equivalent carbon-carbon double bonds of CH2CCH2, followed by the formation of several cyclic and linear isomeric C3H4N intermediates that can undergo unimolecular decomposition to bimolecular products with elimination of H, CH3, HCN, HNC, and CN. The kinetic experiments confirm the barrierless nature of the reaction through the measurement of rate constants close to the gas-kinetic rate at all temperatures. Statistical estimates of product branching fractions (BFs) on the theoretical PES were carried out under the conditions of the CMB experiments at room temperature and at temperatures (94 and 175 K) relevant for Titan. Up to 14 competing product channels were statistically predicted with the main ones at E c = 33 kJ/mol being formation of cyclic-CH2C(N)CH + H (BF = 87.0%) followed by CHCCHNH + H (BF = 10.5%) and CH2CCNH + H (BF = 1.4%) the other 11 possible channels being negligible (BFs ranging from 0 to 0.5%). BFs under the other conditions are essentially unchanged. Experimental dynamical information could only be obtained on the overall H-displacement channel, while other possible channels could not be confirmed within the sensitivity of the method. This is also in line with theoretical predictions as the other possible channels are predicted to be negligible, including the HCN/HNC + C2H3 (vinyl) channels (overall BF < 1%). The dynamics and product distributions are dramatically different with respect to those observed in the isomeric reaction N(2D) + CH3CCH (propyne), where at a similar E c the main product channels are CH2NH (methanimine) + C2H (BF = 41%), c-C(N)CH + CH3 (BF = 32%), and CH2CHCN (vinyl cyanide) + H (BF = 12%). Rate coefficients (the recommended value is 1.7 (±0.2) × 10-10 cm3 s-1 over the 50-300 K range) and BFs have been used in a photochemical model of Titan's atmosphere to simulate the effect of the title reaction on the species abundance (including any new products formed) as a function of the altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Vanuzzo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Luca Mancini
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pannacci
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Pengxiao Liang
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Demian Marchione
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Pedro Recio
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Yuxin Tan
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Marzio Rosi
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Piergiorgio Casavecchia
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Nadia Balucani
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Kevin M. Hickson
- Université
de Bordeaux, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires,
UMR 5255, F-33400 Talence, France
- CNRS,
Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, UMR 5255, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Loison
- Université
de Bordeaux, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires,
UMR 5255, F-33400 Talence, France
- CNRS,
Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, UMR 5255, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Michel Dobrijevic
- Laboratoire
d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, Université
de Bordeaux, CNRS, B18N,
allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, F-33615 Pessac, France
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6
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Vanuzzo G, Marchione D, Mancini L, Liang P, Pannacci G, Recio P, Tan Y, Rosi M, Skouteris D, Casavecchia P, Balucani N. The N( 2D) + CH 2CHCN (Vinyl Cyanide) Reaction: A Combined Crossed Molecular Beam and Theoretical Study and Implications for the Atmosphere of Titan. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:6110-6123. [PMID: 36053010 PMCID: PMC9483977 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c04263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The reaction of electronically excited nitrogen atoms,
N(2D), with vinyl cyanide, CH2CHCN, has been
investigated
under single-collision conditions by the crossed molecular beam (CMB)
scattering method with mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight
(TOF) analysis at the collision energy, Ec, of 31.4 kJ/mol. Synergistic electronic structure calculations of
the doublet potential energy surface (PES) have been performed to
assist in the interpretation of the experimental results and characterize
the overall reaction micromechanism. Statistical (Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus,
RRKM) calculations of product branching fractions (BFs) on the theoretical
PES have been carried out at different values of temperature, including
the one corresponding to the temperature (175 K) of Titan’s
stratosphere and at a total energy corresponding to the Ec of the CMB experiment. According to our theoretical
calculations, the reaction is found to proceed via barrierless addition
of N(2D) to the carbon–carbon double bond of CH2=CH–CN, followed by the formation of cyclic
and linear intermediates that can undergo H, CN, and HCN elimination.
In competition, the N(2D) addition to the CN group is also
possible via a submerged barrier, leading ultimately to N2 + C3H3 formation, the most exothermic of all
possible channels. Product angular and TOF distributions have been
recorded for the H-displacement channels leading to the formation
of a variety of possible C3H2N2 isomeric
products. Experimentally, no evidence of CN, HCN, and N2 forming channels was observed. These findings were corroborated
by the theory, which predicts a variety of competing product channels,
following N(2D) addition to the double bond, with the main
ones, at Ec = 31.4 kJ/mol, being six isomeric
H forming channels: c-CH(N)CHCN + H (BF = 35.0%), c-CHNCHCN + H (BF = 28.1%), CH2NCCN + H (BF =
26.3%), c-CH2(N)CCN(cyano-azirine) + H
(BF = 7.4%), trans-HNCCHCN + H (BF = 1.6%), and cis-HNCCHCN + H (BF = 1.3%), while C–C bond breaking
channels leading to c-CH2(N)CH(2H-azirine)
+ CN and c-CH2(N)C + HCN are predicted
to be negligible (0.02% and 0.2%, respectively). The highly exothermic
N2 + CH2CCH (propargyl) channel is also predicted
to be negligible because of the very high isomerization barrier from
the initial addition intermediate to the precursor intermediate able
to lead to products. The predicted product BFs are found to have,
in general, a very weak energy dependence. The above cyclic and linear
products containing an additional C–N bond could be potential
precursors of more complex, N-rich organic molecules that contribute
to the formation of the aerosols on Titan’s upper atmosphere.
Overall, the results are expected to have a significant impact on
the gas-phase chemistry of Titan’s atmosphere and should be
properly included in the photochemical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Vanuzzo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Demian Marchione
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Luca Mancini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Pengxiao Liang
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pannacci
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Pedro Recio
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Yuxin Tan
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Marzio Rosi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Piergiorgio Casavecchia
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Nadia Balucani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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