Organic compounds in metallic hydrogen

TL;DR

This study uses density functional theory to explore hydrocarbon chemistry in metallic hydrogen, revealing the formation of charged organic-like molecules stabilized by the metallic environment, suggesting organic chemistry can occur in extraterrestrial conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a new understanding of hydrocarbon chemistry in metallic hydrogen, showing the formation of charged organic molecules stabilized by metallic environments, which was previously unexplored experimentally.

Findings

Carbon and oxygen form charged hydrocarbons in metallic hydrogen.

Organic-like molecules such as CH6, C2H8, and others are stabilized by metallic hydrogen.

Organic chemistry may be common in the universe beyond Earth.

Abstract

Metallic hydrogen is the most common condensed material in the universe, comprising the centre of gas giant planets. However, experimental studies are extremely challenging, and most of our understanding of this material has been led by theory. Chemistry in this environment has not been probed experimentally, so here we examine hydrocarbon chemistry in metallic hydrogen using density functional theory calculations. We find that carbon and oxygen react with metallic hydrogen to produce an entirely new type of hydrocarbon chemistry based on sixfold coordinated carbon with organic-style molecules CH6, C2H8, C3H10 OH3 NH4 and CH4OH. These are charged molecules stabilised by the metallic environment. Their associated electric fields are screened, giving oscillation in the surrounding electron and proton densities. In view of the excess hydrogen we refer to them as hypermethane, hyperethane etc. The relationship to traditional chemistry is that the metallic background acts as an electron donor and stabilizes negatively charged ions. This enables the formation of six covalent bonds per carbon atom, or three per oxygen atom. This demonstrates that organic chemistry may take place in very different environments from those found on earth, and may be common throughout the universe.