Formic acid in space

1999/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astrofisika

The University of Illinois radio astronomers have found at the center of three molecular clouds and of them (Sagittarius B2, Orion and W51), a formic acid accumulated in dense clouds. Formic acid is a colorless, annoying liquid that flows into the soil after the gag of ants and the puncture of bees, while in space it is the simplest of organic acids. Its structure is similar to that of acetic acid and glycine, two biologically important organic molecules.

Acetic acid was discovered in space in 1996, but it is still glycine. Since glycine is the simplest amino acid of biological importance and formic acid is very similar to yours, it has been considered an important finding to locate more complex and biologically interesting molecules in space.