The possibility of organic molecule formation in the Venus atmosphere

Based on the detection of ammonia in the Venus atmosphere, and the suggested presence of hydrogen chloride, a structure for the Venus atmosphere was suggested as having 3 cloud layers, consisting of ammonium chloride (30 to 50 km above the ground), a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate (NH₂COOHN₄) from 50–60 km, and water ice crystals above this. There is a strong possibility of electrical discharge in the atmosphere as a result of thermal convective turbulence, which in the case of the slightly reducing atmosphere outlined above could lead to organic compound formation. The hypothesis was tested experimentally by passing a 60 KV spark from platinum electrodes through a gas mixture of composition: N₂(0.2%), NH₃ (2%), Water (5%), O₂ (0.6%), CO₂ (remainder), for 8 hr. The products were analysed by mass spectrometry and amino acid analysis by ion exchange. Methane and formaldehyde were identified by MS, and glycine and alanine by the amino acid analyzer. The presence of organic compounds in the Venus atmosphere is therefore a strong possibility.