How did moluculair oxygen devoleped on Mercury?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter 2ossy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Mercury Oxygen
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the development of molecular oxygen on Mercury, exploring how oxygen could exist on a planet without life, particularly in comparison to Earth's oxygen production through photosynthesis. Participants examine the sources and quantities of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that oxygen on Mercury is produced by high-speed solar particles knocking it off the rocks, but the amounts are minimal and lost to space quickly.
  • Others argue that ultraviolet light can split gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor to create oxygen, but this process does not allow for accumulation due to reactions with surface minerals.
  • One participant questions the accuracy of Wikipedia's claim that Mercury's atmosphere is 40% molecular oxygen, seeking alternative sources to verify this information.
  • Another participant points out that Wikipedia states Mercury has tiny amounts of oxygen, suggesting a discrepancy in understanding the atmospheric composition.
  • It is noted that Mercury's atmospheric pressure is extremely low, around 10^-14 times that of Earth, indicating that its atmosphere is effectively non-existent.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the amount of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere and its sources. Some assert that the oxygen is present in trace amounts, while others reference conflicting information from Wikipedia, leading to an unresolved discussion about the actual composition and characteristics of Mercury's atmosphere.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the reliance on potentially inaccurate sources like Wikipedia and the lack of consensus on the actual percentage of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere, as well as the conditions under which it exists.

2ossy
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hello,
A question about the devolepment of oxygen on Mercury:

I learned that all the oxygen (O2) at our planet was formed by photosynthesis of bacteria.
So how could oxygen develop on mercury without life??

(Composition of the atmosphere of Mercury: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet ))
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
2ossy said:
Hello,
A question about the devolepment of oxygen on Mercury:

I learned that all the oxygen (O2) at our planet was formed by photosynthesis of bacteria.
So how could oxygen develop on mercury without life??

(Composition of the atmosphere of Mercury: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet ))

The oxygen on Mercury is knocked off the rocks by high speed particles from the Sun. Only tiny amounts are present and are lost to space almost as quickly as they're made. Ultraviolet light can make oxygen by splitting up gases like carbon dioxide and water vapour, but the amount can't accumulate because the oxygen reacts with surface minerals. Only plants can continually replace what is lost to surface reactions - without their production Earth's oxygen would be depleted in a few million years.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
qraal said:
The oxygen on Mercury is knocked off the rocks by high speed particles from the Sun. Only tiny amounts are present and are lost to space almost as quickly as they're made.

Ok, but according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet ) Mercuries atmosphere exists 40% out of moluculair oxygen.

I know that wikipedia isn't allways right, but do you have a source that tells that Mercury have tiny amounts of oxygen?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
2ossy said:
Ok, but according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet ) Mercuries atmosphere exists 40% out of moluculair oxygen.

I know that wikipedia isn't allways right, but do you have a source that tells that Mercury have tiny amounts of oxygen?

Read your own source, Wikipedia tells you it has tiny amounts of oxygen.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jack21222 said:
Read your own source, Wikipedia tells you it has tiny amounts of oxygen.

Wikipedia tells me 2 things about oxygen on Mercury. 1. Its in the atmosphere and 2. 40 % of the atmosphere is moluculair oxygen.
 
3 things. Atmospheric pressure = "trace"
 
Mercury's 'atmosphere' is effectively non-existant, it has a pressure of around 10^-14 times that of Earth. Europa, Jupiter's moon has an 'atmosphere' thicker than that at 10^-12 bar.
 
Ok, thanks for the explanation :)
 

Similar threads

High School Life Outside Our Planet Without Oxygen and Water
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
Graduate Oxygen is not definitive evidence of life on habitable extrasolar planets
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Will NASA Reveal Oxygen in TRAPPIST-1 Exoplanet Atmospheres?
  • · Replies 67 ·
3
Replies
67
Views
15K
Undergrad J0524-0336, surprisingly high Li concentration
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School Potential Organism Sustaining Planets
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Turning oxygen into fluorine in our atmosphere
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Undergrad How Big of an Object Orbiting Closer to the Sun Than Earth Could Be Overlooked?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Graduate How many exoplanets with an atmospheric oxygen signature would be necessary?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
5K
Composting Process: Learn About Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen & Nitrogen
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Discrepancy between oxygen and carbon-dioxide levels
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
7K