Scientists from Michigan State University have made an unexpected breakthrough, discovering a new way to form trigidrogen (H3+) – a positively charged ion made up of three hydrogen atoms. This particle is crucial for the existence of life on Earth, as it plays a key role in the formation of stars and acts as a catalyst for various chemical reactions in space. The findings of the study have been published in Nature Communications.
Previously, the only known pathway for the formation of H3+ involved a collision between two forms of hydrogen: an ordinary H2 molecule and its ionized version, H2+. However, the new mechanism discovered by the researchers starts with a class of organic molecules known as methyloglogen and pseudo-Galogen, which contain halogen atoms or atom groups that behave like halogens. When exposed to high-energy particles or intense electromagnetic radiation in interstellar space, these molecules lose two electrons, becoming twice ionized particles with a strong positive charge.
In interstellar clouds, these charged particles are surrounded by a large number of H2 molecules. Instead of passing by, as previously assumed, the H2 molecules start rotating around the charged particles due to their strong electric field. This rotation creates conditions for a unique chemical interaction where the twice ionized molecule can capture a hydrogen ion from an H2 molecule, leading to the formation of H3+. These processes take place in the same space clouds where the initial chemical structures that eventually led to earthly life were formed billions of years ago.
Professor Pyotr Pechukh, one of the study’s authors, commented that this behavior of molecules challenges traditional beliefs, as it was previously thought that twice ionized molecules could not interact in such a manner. While trigidrogen does not play a significant role in earthly processes like water or proteins, studying its prevalence and the mechanisms involved in its formation is essential for understanding chemical reactions in outer space.
By exploring all possible ways of forming H3+, scientists hope to uncover the processes behind the formation of more complex compounds in the universe. This groundbreaking research sheds light on the fundamental building blocks of life and the intricate chemistry taking place in space.