Mass Spectrometry Helps Identify Molecular Composition of Meteorites
Written by AZoOpticsApr 6 2021
In an effort to find the origin of carbonaceous chondrites the insoluble organic matter constituting the Murchison and Allende meteorites researchers from Russia and Germany investigated their molecular composition.
Сarbonaceous chondrite and its sulfur chemistry. Image Credit: Skoltech.
Using ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry, the team unraveled an extensive diversity of chemical compositions and unpredicted similarities between meteorites from various groups. The study has been published in the journal
Scientific Reports.
Carbonaceous chondrites are made of almost the whole spectrum of organic molecules found on Earth, such as nucleic acids that could have had a crucial role in the evolution of life.