Table 1
N-bearing molecules detected in comets by means of remote-sensing at millimetre wavelengths.
| Molecule | Constitution formula | Mass (Da) | Comment | Identified in DFMS data(a) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen cyanide | HCN | 27 | Detected | Yes(b) |
| Hydrogen isocyanide | HNC | 27 | Detected | No ref. spectrum |
| Methylamine | CH5N | 31 | UL | Yes |
| Acetonitrile | C2H3N | 41 | Detected | Yes(c) |
| Cyanoacetylene | C3HN | 51 | Detected | Yes |
| Acrylonitrile(d) | C3H3N | 53 | UL | Yes |
| Ethylcyanide(e) | C3H5N | 55 | UL | Yes |
| Isocyanic acid | HNCO | 43 | Detected | Yes |
| Formamide | CH2NO | 45 | Detected | Yes |
| Glycine | C2H5NO2 | 75 | UL | Yes(f) |
Notes. The table is based on the review of Biver & Bockelée-Morvan (2019). For certain molecules not detected in the searches, upper limits (ULs) have been reported. (a)We indicate the identification of these molecules in DFMS data as reviewed by Altwegg et al. (2019). (b)For the isomer of HCN, i.e. HNC, no EI-MS reference spectrum is available. But the DFMS data is compatible with the fragmentation pattern of HCN, and it is unclear if and how much HNC contributes. (c)Acetonitrile and methylisocyanide cannot be distinguished in DFMS data as the differences in their fragmentation patterns are too little. (d)The IUPAC name is 2-propenenitrile. (e)The IUPAC name is propanenitrile. (f)Glycine has been reported by Altwegg et al. (2016).
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