Detection of formic acid in the cold, dark cloud L134N.
We report the first detection of formic acid (HCOOH) in a cold, dark interstellar cloud (L134N).  The observed abundance of 3x10(-10) relative to H2 is between one and two orders of magnitude lower than that calculated by published ion molecule models of dark cloud chemistry, but is quite consistent with recent model revisions based on new reaction rates.  Formic acid was not detected in the archetypical dark cloud TMC-1, and was tentatively detected in the region of massive star formation, W51.
Irvine
W M
WM
FCRAO, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA.
Friberg
P
P
Kaifu
N
N
Matthews
H E
HE
Minh
Y C
YC
Ohishi
M
M
Ishikawa
S
S
D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005561:Formates / Q000032:analysis*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid; D006859:Hydrogen