Ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions in the universe?

In summary, the conversation discusses the relative abundance of hydrogen in its various forms in space, including H, H+, H-, H2, H2+, and H2-. The speaker is seeking information on the energy required to add or remove an electron from hydrogen, as well as the ratio of H to H2 in the universe. They also mention studying the abundance of helium for their research on the Bussard ramjet and Zubrin solar brake. Additional research reveals that space is filled with a high temperature plasma, which separates hydrogen protons from their electrons and creates various ions. However, the concentrations of these molecules and ions are still unknown.
  • #1
zmorris
13
0
Hi this may sound like a simple question but I'm trying to find out the relative abundance of hydrogen in its various forms in space:

H, H+, H-, H2, H2+, H2-

I'd like to know these for our stellar neighborhood involving the solar wind and also for interstellar space outside the heliopause.

I was hoping to use the energy required to remove an electron from hydrogen vs. the energy to add an additional one. I looked at ionization energy but it's been too long since I studied it in school. I was wondering if the Bohr model might work for this simple case:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionization_energy#Electrostatic_explanation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohr_model#Rydberg_formula

* Could someone direct me to a table showing the energy required to add or remove an electron from H to create H- (hydride) and H+ (hydron), or are they identical?
* The same for H2 to H2- and H2+
* Does someone know the ratio of H to H2 in the universe?

Perhaps from there we can make a good guess as to the relative abundances. I also would like to find these ratios for helium but it's not as critical (I'm studying aspects of the Bussard ramjet and Zubrin solar brake and how much would be lost to some ions going the opposite direction).
 
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  • #2
I did a bit more research and found that even though space is cold, its pressure and density are so low that it's filled with a high temperature plasma, which means that mostly the hydrogen protons are separated from their electrons:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind#History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_medium
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergalactic_medium#Interplanetary_space
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergalactic_medium#Interstellar_space
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergalactic_medium#Intergalactic_space
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intracluster_medium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_anion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_cation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_cation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trihydrogen_cation (perhaps most abundant ion)

So cosmic rays keep the plasma separated which creates H2+ and that quickly combines with H2 to create H3+ and H. There is evidently little H+ at any pressure. But I don't know how often some of the free electrons combine with protons to create H2- (and probably H3- and almost no H-). I still can't find relative concentrations of the hydrogen molecules and their positive ions.
 
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1. What is the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions in the universe?

The ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions in the universe is approximately 1:1. This means that for every positive hydrogen ion (proton), there is a negative hydrogen ion (electron) present.

2. Why is the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions important?

The ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions is important because it affects the overall charge of the universe. If there were significantly more positive ions than negative ions, the universe would have a positive charge and vice versa. This would have implications for the behavior and interactions of particles in the universe.

3. How is the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions determined?

The ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions is determined through observations and measurements of the abundance of these ions in different areas of the universe. Scientists use various telescopes and instruments to study the composition of different objects, such as stars and galaxies, and determine the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions.

4. Does the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions change over time?

Yes, the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions can change over time as a result of various processes such as nuclear reactions and interactions with other particles. However, this change is relatively slow and does not significantly affect the overall ratio.

5. What impact does the ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions have on the formation of structures in the universe?

The ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions plays a crucial role in the formation of structures in the universe, such as stars and galaxies. The balance between positive and negative charges is necessary for gravitational forces to act and allow these structures to form and evolve over time.

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