The document discusses chemistry in the interstellar medium (ISM). It notes that chemistry in the ISM occurs under very different physical conditions than on Earth, including low pressure, extreme temperatures, and high-energy radiation. Quantum tunneling allows chemical reactions to occur even in these hostile environments by allowing particles to tunnel through energy barriers. The document provides examples of organic molecules and cosmic dust found in the ISM through astrochemical analysis.

2. • Introduction
• Interstellar Medium (ISM)
• Chemistry of Super Hot & Super Cooled Atmosphere
• Chemical Reactions In ISM & Quantum Tunnelling
• Applications
• Conclusion

3. We can not apply the laws of Chemistry that we are using in our planet to describe
various chemical phenomena in Space.
As all chemical processes depend upon physical conditions, which is completely
different in every point of Universe.
So when we move towards interstellar medium, chemistry is different for us due to
variation in physical environment.
The three main physical conditions that bring change in chemical processes in ISM
are
1. Very low pressure
2. Extreme temperature difference (from very low to very high)
3. High energetic radiations like gamma rays, x-rays & cosmic rays.
All these phenomena do not allow any type of chemical reactions in ISM still those
happen.

5. Scientists have been identified almost all these elements of periodic
table in ISM in various states (solid, gas, liquid, plasma) depending
upon their environment.
Apart from this a large number of molecules, both organic & inorganic,
even some polymers are also detected there.
Mainly ISM is filled with Hydrogen & Helium in grater proportion as
these are the simplest elements that till we know.
Cosmic dusts are found everywhere in space which plays a very
important role in various chemical processes.
Various cosmic rays & electromagnetic radiations like gamma ray, x-ray,
are also found there which could alter the chemical processes
occurring there.

7. 1. Cosmic dusts are found almost everywhere
in space , believed to be originated from
Stars, when they collapsed or created.
2. So analysing the chemistry of these dusts
we could have some idea about the
chemistry of stars.
3. Cosmic dusts also provide sites for a
chemical reaction. (adsorption)
4. The central part is made up of graphite,
silicate and iron with a little bit oxygen
surrounded by mantle of water ice and CO
along with poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
chain & poly formaldehyde.
5. But the structure may vary due to the
variation in type of production of
interstellar dusts.

8. • This type of environment only found near stars like our Sun.
• Mainly stars composed of hydrogen and helium(fuel of stars) with a
few other heavier elements like oxygen, carbon, neon, nitrogen,
magnesium, iron and silicon closer to the core.
• Due to fusion reaction enormous amount of energy(heat & light)
released & comes out which turns its outer most atmosphere ionic &
plasma.
• Various electromagnetic radiations like gamma ray, x ray, are
originated from this effect

10. (Super gravitational pull is balanced by (Stars running out of fuel, converting ( This is a neutron star
Energy exhausted outside by fusion.) to a iron rich core. Here the super gravity containing only
is balanced by electron degeneracy pressure. Neutrons. It again
But by addition of mass gravity increases further further collapsed to
which overcome the EDP as a result of which Star form a black hole.)
get collapsed with release of enormous amount
Of energy by fusion of proton and electron releasing
Neutrons and neutrinos. Due to this release of energy
The infalling outer atmosphere flung outwards resulting
a SUPERNOVA.)

11. After the discovery of radioactivity scientists able to know a little bit
about gamma rays from various radioactive metals. But finding of
such types of electromagnetic radiations in higher altitude surprised
them, from which a new term arose.
These are the highly energised (3×1022 ev) charged particles, moving
at a velocity of light, imagine to be produced from outer side of our
solar system due to various astro physical process like Supernova &
Black hole.
When they collide with molecules like Oxygen & nitrogen in their way
of travelling, they produce various electro magnetic radiations like
gamma ray and X- ray. So they induces radioactivity thus plays a very
important role in astro chemical reactions.

12. 1% heavier nuclei
Cosmic Ray
8% α nuclei
1% β particle
99% atomic nuclei
90% protons
1
%

15. This is a giant cloud of alcohol
found by scientists, 26000
light years away from earth &
1000 times larger than the
diameter of our solar system.
It contains enough ethyl
alcohol that could fill 400
trillion trillion pints of beer.

16. • Recently Scientists have found a dense cloud of methane in ISM. But
they were unable to explain the formation of such molecules in ISM
where all these conditions go against it.
• A team at university of LEEDS, UK recently found a theoretical
mechanism which could solve the way of formation of organic
molecules in space even in drastic conditions.
• A phenomenon called Quantum Tunnelling is able to explain the
chemical reactions occurring in ISM.
• Scientists by creating an artificial system (very low temperature
system) able to describe the formation of methoxy radical from
methanol without using any activation energy concept.

18. • Chemical reactions get slower as temperatures decrease, as there is
less energy to get over the ‘reaction barrier.’ But quantum mechanics
tells us that it is possible to cheat and dig through this barrier instead
of going over it. This is called ‘quantum tunnelling.
• When Schrodinger wave equation was solved, taking an electron in
between two wall having infinite potential , then scientists found,
there is a small probability of finding the electron out side the wall
mathematically.
• How ever it was believed that electron without crossing the wall,
makes a tunnel through it as a result of which it makes itself available
outside the wall. This is called quantum tunnelling.

19. • In a artificial medium, where the temperature is very low, scientists by
using quantum tunnelling concept, able to describe the formation of
methoxy radical from methanol.
• Here hydroxy radical (OH.) makes a tunnel through the activation
energy barrier to extract the hydrogen radical (H.) from methanol.

20. • Identification of New elements.
• Understanding the origin & construction of Universe.
• Protection of earth from various cosmic effect.
• Identification of presence of Black holes by analysing various
radiations by black hole environment.
• Discovery of various states of matter which could alter our life style.
• Discovery of life in other planet by various organic analysis.