Chemistry During the Gas-rich Stage of Planet Formation

TL;DR

This paper reviews the chemistry processes during the gas-rich stage of planet formation, focusing on different disk zones and their influence on planetary atmospheres, combining observational and theoretical insights.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of chemical pathways in planet-forming disks, highlighting the importance of different zones and their role in planetary composition.

Findings

Identification of key chemical processes in midplane and snow-lines

Insights into the chemistry of shielded disk surfaces

Understanding of photodissociation layers and their impact

Abstract

In this chapter we outline some of the basic understanding of the chemistry that accompanies planet formation. We discuss the basic physical environment which dictates the dominant chemical kinetic pathways for molecule formation. We focus on three zones from both observational and theoretical perspectives: (1) the planet forming midplane and ice/vapor transition zones (snow-lines), (2) the warm disk surface that is shielded from radiation, which can be readily accessed by todays observational facilities, and (3) the surface photodissociation layers where stellar radiation dominates. We end with a discussion of how chemistry influences planet formation along with how to probe the link between formation and ultimate atmospheric composition for gas giants and terrestrial worlds.