INTERSTELLAR UREA $[(NH_{2})_{2}CO]$
Loading...
Date
2003
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University
Abstract
In 1773, H. M. Rouelle's discovery of urea in human urine supported theories that organic chemicals could be modified by chemistry, but could only be produced through a vital force in living plants and $animals^{a}$. The theory of Vitalism was badly damaged in 1828 when Friedrich W\""{o}hler synthesized urea from inorganic starting materials. Indeed, urea was the first organic compound ever to be synthesized from inorganic compounds. Today, urea is thought to have played a significant role in prebiotic chemistry. Extraterrestrial urea was first detected in two samples of the Murchinson $meteorite^{b}$. In this paper, we report the first detection of gas-phase interstellar urea $[(NH_{2})_{2}CO]$. We used the $BIMA^{c}$ Array to detect urea emission from the hot molecular core Sgr B2(N-LMH) at $\lambda = 3 mm (9_{\ast,9}-8_{\ast,8,} 9_{\ast,8}-8_{\ast,7}$, and $10_{\ast,10}-9_{\ast,9})$, and at $\lambda = 1 mm (20_{\ast,20}-19_{\ast,19,} 20_{\ast,19}-19_{\ast,18}$, and $21_{\ast,21}-20_{\ast,20})$. We will compare the urea column density and distribution with those of other molecules of biological interest in Sgr B2(N-LMH).
Description
$^{a}$Current Address: Optical Technology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD $20899-8441 {^{b}}$Current address: Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, P. O. Box 23-141, 106 Taipei, Taiwan, ROC ${^{a}}Fairall$ 1996, http://smallfry.dmu.ac.uk/chem/mom/urea/urea.html ${^{b}}$Hayatsu et al. 1975, Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, 39, 471 ${^{c}}$Operated by the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Illinois, and the University of Maryland with support from the National Science Foundation
Author Institution: Department of Astronomy, The University of Illinois; Astronomy Department, California Institute of Technology
Author Institution: Department of Astronomy, The University of Illinois; Astronomy Department, California Institute of Technology