<p>Getting atoms together into molecules requires two basic things - getting the reactants together and them providing the means to overcome the "activation energy" that is due to the mutual repulsion of the electrons that surround them.</p>

<p>Astrophysical chemistry is a rich and complex field of study. Most molecules are produced by a wide variety of processes. For ethanol in solar system objects, a cartoon of the process might be this:</p>

<p>Grains of dust (basic silicates and soot) form in the protosolar nebula; cosmic rays and high energy radiation from the protosun ionise atoms (remove outer electrons), which makes them "sticky"; these ionised atoms are concentrated onto the surfaces of dust grains, increasing their densities to the extent that reactions between them become likely; hydrogen ions are able to hydrogenate carbon and oxygen to produce CH and OH radicals; these then encounter each other in the presence of more hydrogen to form ethanol; dust grains with ethanol are then incorporated into solar system bodies like comets.</p>

<p>But as I said, for any individual ethanol molecule, other pathways are possible.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-17T12:11:58.183Z
2016-12-17T12:11:58.183Z
ProfRob
<p>Recently I read about comet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2014_Q2_(Lovejoy)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)</a>.The thing got me amazed was that scientists found it was dumping ethyl alcohol all along its way, at a rate of around 300-500 bottles per second. So I want to ask how common is alcohol in outer space, and how did it form? I usually imagine space as an inert mixture of dry dust and light gases but it turns out there are sometimes alcoholic compounds.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-16T21:11:43.313Z
Atoms love forming into molecules. You'd be surprised at what that "dry dust" is made of in space. People have found examples of [PAHs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycyclic_aromatic_hydrocarbon#Detection_and_optical_properties), [proto-protiens](http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18569), and many other [organic molecules](http://www.space.com/2711-organic-molecules-diverse-space-places.html).
zephyr
<comets><astrochemistry>
How does this comet have alcohol in it?
Vinay
# How does this comet have alcohol in it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-16)

Recently I read about comet [C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2014_Q2_(Lovejoy)).The thing got me amazed was that scientists found it was dumping ethyl alcohol all along its way, at a rate of around 300-500 bottles per second. So I want to ask how common is alcohol in outer space, and how did it form? I usually imagine space as an inert mixture of dry dust and light gases but it turns out there are sometimes alcoholic compounds.

**Tags:** comets, astrochemistry

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Atoms love forming into molecules. You'd be surprised at what that "dry dust" is made of in space. People have found examples of [PAHs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycyclic_aromatic_hydrocarbon#Detection_and_optical_properties), [proto-protiens](http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18569), and many other [organic molecules](http://www.space.com/2711-organic-molecules-diverse-space-places.html).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-17. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Getting atoms together into molecules requires two basic things - getting the reactants together and them providing the means to overcome the "activation energy" that is due to the mutual repulsion of the electrons that surround them.

Astrophysical chemistry is a rich and complex field of study. Most molecules are produced by a wide variety of processes. For ethanol in solar system objects, a cartoon of the process might be this:

Grains of dust (basic silicates and soot) form in the protosolar nebula; cosmic rays and high energy radiation from the protosun ionise atoms (remove outer electrons), which makes them "sticky"; these ionised atoms are concentrated onto the surfaces of dust grains, increasing their densities to the extent that reactions between them become likely; hydrogen ions are able to hydrogenate carbon and oxygen to produce CH and OH radicals; these then encounter each other in the presence of more hydrogen to form ethanol; dust grains with ethanol are then incorporated into solar system bodies like comets.

But as I said, for any individual ethanol molecule, other pathways are possible.


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