The chemical activities of the Viking biology experiments and the arguments for the presence of superoxides, peroxides, gamma-Fe2O3 and carbon suboxide polymer in the Martian soil.
The evolution of N2, Ar, O2, and CO2 from Martian soil as a function of humidity in the Gas Exchange Experiment are correlated with the mean level of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere. All but O2 are associated with desorption. The evolution of oxygen is consistent with the presence of alkaline earth and alkali metal superoxides; and their peroxides and the gamma-Fe2O3 in the soil can account for the generation of radioactive gas in the Labeled Release Experiment. The slower evolution of CO2 from both the Gas Exchange Experiment and the Labeled Release Experiment are associated with the direct oxidation of organics by gamma-Fe2O3. The Pyrolytic Release Experiment's second peak may be carbon suboxide as demonstrated by laboratory experiments. A necessary condition is that the polymer exists in the Martian soil. We ascribe the activity of the surface samples to the reaction of Martian particulates with an anhydrous CO2 atmosphere activated by uv and ionizing radiations. The surface particles are ultimately altered by exposure to small but significant amounts of water at the sites. From the working model, we have predicted the peculiar nature of the chemical entities and demonstrated that the model is justified by laboratory data. The final confirmation of this model will entail a return to Mars, but the nature and implications of this chemistry for the Martian surface is predicted to reveal even more about Mars with further simulations in the laboratory.
Oyama
V I
VI
Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, California, USA.
Berdahl
B J
BJ
Woeller
F
F
Lehwalt
M
M
D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006813:Humidity; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D018535:Mars; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D013026:Space Flight
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C000499:ferric oxide; D001128:Argon; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen