Ammonium Salts as a Source of Small Molecules Observed with High-Resolution Electron-Impact Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Recent high-resolution in situ mass spectrometry at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko visited by European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft raised the question, if sublimating ammonium salts can unequivocally be detected in the cometary coma. In laboratory experiments with the twin model of the space instrument, two prototypic ammonium salts NH 4 B, namely, ammonium chloride (B = Cl – ) and ammonium formate (B = HCOO – ) (as well as methodologically relevant isotopologues), were allowed to sublimate in vacuum while mass spectra were collected. High-resolution electron-impact ionization mass spectrometry provides an outstanding experimental tool to investigate the complex physicochemical processes occurring during the sublimation of ammonium salts. Sublimation of ammonium chloride led to the observation of the ammonium cation NH 4 + and the chloramide molecule NH 2 Cl in the neutral gas mode of the instrument. These observations could be jointly interpreted as indirect evidence for the existence of a neutral gaseous parent species (either as the molecular complex NH 3 ···HB or the double-ionic species NH 4 + ···B – ). However, the qualitative fragmentation pattern we present for 13 C 15 N-ammonium formate suggests an alternative route of NH 4 + production within the ionization region of the instrument, namely, by protonation/hydrogenation. Besides NH 4 +, other species were observed that were formed in protonation/hydrogenation reactions. Moreover, together with the two major species from the decomposition of the salt, ammonia and formic acid, three minor species also contributed to the fragmentation pattern: HCN/HNC, HOCN/HNCO, and CH 3 NO. Like chloramide, formamide (CH 3 NO) also is a secondary species probably formed in a pseudo-intramolecular chemical reaction while ammonia and the respective acid are in a state of association. HCN/HNC and HOCN/HNCO are ternary products coming out of formamide decomposition reactions. We discuss our experimental findings, summarized in a tentative chemical reaction network, in light of the available theoretical literature and highlight their relevance for the interpretation of in situ measurements in space research.