destroyer # 38

[Dream team]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

early earth had a reducing atmosphere of NH3, H2S and CH4......where did they get the H2S from...did they mean H2O
thanks

 

[lifeisgood]

early earth had a reducing atmosphere of NH3, H2S and CH4......where did they get the H2S from...did they mean H2O
thanks

They are correct. Early earth did have a reducing atmosphere and H2S is a reducing agent.

I found this online:

Comments on the role of H2S in the chemistry of Earth's early atmosphere and in prebiotic synthesis.

Author: Clark, P D : Dowling, N I : Huang, M

Citation: J-Mol-Evol. 1998 Aug; 47(2): 127-32

Abstract: Free energy calculations and experimental measurements have been used to show that H2S/CO2 mixtures outgassing from a prebiotic Earth's crust would have produced a reducing gas mixture containing CO, H2, H2O, and Sx as principal components. Due to rapid recombination of H2, CO, and Sx to H2S and CO2 on cooling from a high temperature to ambient conditions, reducing components would have been retained only if efficient quenching of the reduced gas mixture had been possible. Consequently, subsea vents or vents with efficient infusion of water would have been ideal sites for retention of reduced species and for prebiotic organic synthesis. It is suggested that C/H/O/S ratios are important factors in controlling the degree of prebiotic organic synthesis and, hence, the emergence of life, since if oxygen is abundant, CO2 and SO2 would have been dominant species.