Studies of proton irradiated H₂O + CO₂ and H₂O + CO ices and analysis of synthesized molecules

Infrared spectra of H 2 O + CO 2 and H 2 O + CO ices before and after proton irradiation showed that a major reaction in both mixtures was the interconversion of CO 2 ⇌ CO. Radiation synthesized organic compounds such as carbonic acid were identified in the H 2 O + CO 2 ice. Different chemical pathways dominate in the H 2 O + CO ice in which formaldehyde, methanol, ethanol, and methane were identified. Sublimed material was also analyzed using a mass spectrometer. Implications of these results are discussed in reference to comets.