2019-07-01_Discover

C 2 H 2

C 2 H 4

C 2 H 6

HCN

Nitrogen

Benzene

C 2 H 5 +

HCNH+

CH 5 +

C 4 N 5 +

Dis

soc

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tio

n

Low mass

Low mass

CN-/C 2 H-

C 3 N-/C 4 H-

C 5 N-/C 6 H-

Intermediate mass

Titan

Larg

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Sunlight

Methane

JULY/AUGUST 2019. DISCOVER 85

COMPLEX

CHEMISTRY

ON TITAN

Titan’s thick haze at lower

altitudes is the result of

chemical reactions between

incoming energy (sunlight

and energetic particles from

Saturn) and molecules in the

moon’s upper atmosphere

such as nitrogen and methane.

These reactions — which

incorporate elements such as

carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen

— create lighter carbon chain

molecules (middle box) that

eventually form larger organic

molecules that scientists

believe sink to the moon’s

surface. However, not all of

these reactions are known or

understood yet, and the signs

of life may be buried within

data yet to be analyzed from

the Cassini mission.

— ALISON KLESMAN

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