Vinyl Cyanide On Titann

Although the existence of vinyl cyanide c2h3cn on titan was previously inferred using cassini mass spectrometry a definitive detection has been lacking until now.

Vinyl cyanide on titann. Titan is one of saturn s many moons. When cassini reached saturn it was set up to study both the gas giant and the moon to get a closer look. The compound might be suitable for cell membranes. Vinyl cyanide found on titan aliens have at it.

Called vinyl cyanide those molecules are created high in titan s atmosphere and now scientists know there s a truckload of them tucked into the moon s orange haze that probably rain down. Recent simulations have indicated that vinyl cyanide is the best candidate molecule for the formation of cell membranes vesicle structures in titan s hydrocarbon rich lakes and seas. It has a pungent odor of garlic or onions. It was interesting to astronomers because it s the largest moon about the size of mercury.

It is a colorless volatile liquid although commercial samples can be yellow due to impurities. Although the existence of vinyl cyanide c2h3cn on titan was previously inferred using cassini mass spectrometry a definitive detection has been lacking until now. Which showed through theoretical liquid phase calculations that this molecule is one of the most favored to form thermodynamically stable membranes azotosomes in liquid methane at the surface temperature of titan approximately 94. Vinyl cyanide on titan.

In the past it has been speculated that this compound could be present in titan s atmosphere. If true it could prove to us that life can flourish without the ubiquitous h o. Acrylonitrile is an organic compound with the formula ch 2 chcn. In a liquid methane environment vinyl cyanide may form membranes.

Vinyl cyanide or acrylonitrile c 2 h 3 cn has come into focus due to the recent work of stevenson et al. In terms of its molecular structure it consists of a vinyl group linked to a nitrile it is an important monomer for the manufacture of useful plastics such as polyacrylonitrile. Earth based cell membranes are made of phospholipids. Also known as vinyl cyanide acrylonitrile is used here on earth in the manufacture of plastics.

Nasa researchers have confirmed the existence in titan s atmosphere of vinyl cyanide which is an organic compound that could potentially provide the cellular membranes for microbial life to form in titan s vast methane oceans.