According to Science Alert, in the time it takes you to read this article, you may have inhaled billions of molecules of organic hydrotrioxide without even realizing it. “These compounds have always been present. We didn’t know about them before,” said chemist Henrik Grum Kjærgaard from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Earth’s Atmosphere – (Image: COPECNICUS ATMOSPHERE MONITORING SERVICE)
Dr. Kjærgaard’s research team currently has evidence that these mysterious compounds have been continuously formed and exist for a short period in the atmosphere.
However, the origins of organic hydrotrioxide, its specific role, and whether it can react to form a stable structure in the atmosphere remain open questions. Isoprene, an industrial emission, is considered the “prime suspect”, potentially producing about 10 million tons of hydrotrioxide each year.
Theoretically, any compound in the atmosphere could play a role in generating these entirely new compounds. Then, within a few minutes or hours of existence, hydrotrioxide continues to trigger other reactions, leading to various factors in our atmosphere.
“Most human activities lead to the emission of chemicals into the atmosphere. Therefore, understanding the reactions that determine the chemical properties of the atmosphere is crucial if we are to predict how our actions will affect the atmosphere in the future,” said chemist Kristan H. Møller, co-author of the study.
The research was recently published in the journal Science.
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