Mars - Igneous Rock, Exposed to Water, and with Organic Material

[Tom.G]

A good candidate for the sample retrieval mission.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-perseverance-mars-rover-makes-surprising-discoveries

 

[Buzz Bloom]

I have been wondering about how the phrase "organic molecule" is interpreted by most readers. It seems to me that there are two types of organic molecules: (1) created by a life process (like for example sucrose) , and (2) NOT created by a life process (like for example methane). I am wondering what the use of this technical term suggests to a reader about an intuitive estimate of what fraction of the kinds of organic molecules found on non-Earth places are likely to be type (1). My own guess is that the fraction is pretty small (like say less than 1%) that such extraterrestrial finds are type (1).

 

[anorlunda]

In the definition of organic chemistry, the dictionary says "the chemistry of compounds containing carbon (originally defined as the chemistry of substances produced by living organisms but now extended to substances synthesized artificially)"

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Hi @anorlunda:

Thank you for yout definition. However, the definition you give seems to exclude a natural non-life made compound such as methane. It is neither life made or artificially made.

Regards,
Buzz

 

[anorlunda]

I think the point of that definition was any molecule containing carbon, regardless of how it was created.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Hi @anorlunda:

I recently saw a different article that talked about the returning of the samples of organic molecules from Mars to Earth. Unfortunately I cannot find that article now. What I remember is that the package will take about 30 years to reach Earth, and I do not expect to be alive then to learn about what these Martian organic molecules really are.

I also note that there is an enormous amount of "organic molecules" on Venus (CO₂). Just as I said in my post #2, my 99% guess confidence is that these Martian organic molecules are not produced by a life process, and that the same is approximately true for Venus.

Regards,
Buzz

 

[anorlunda]

I would not put so much weight on the relationship between the words organic and life.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Hi @anorlunda:

I would not put so much weight on the relationship between the words organic and life.

I fully agree with the quote above. However, I am botheted by my guess that the likelihood is that many readers will not share this view, and that they will make an incorrect conclusion.

I found a different "definition" for organic molecule that seems to be an authoritative source:
https://nigerianscholars.com/tutorials/organic-molecules/what-are-organic-molecules/ .

It says that "not all compounds that contain carbon are organic molecules". The given definition is:
An organic molecule is a molecule that contains carbon atoms (generally bonded to other carbon atoms as well as hydrogen atoms).

Regards,
Buzz