Mechanistical studies on the formation of isotopomers of hydrogen peroxide (HOOH), hydrotrioxy (HOOO), and dihydrogentrioxide (HOOOH) in electron-irradiated H(2)(18)O/O(2) ice mixtures

In order to investigate the chemical reactions inside water-oxygen ice mixtures in extreme environments, and to confirm the proposed reaction mechanisms in pure water ice, we conducted a detailed infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry study on the electron irradiation of H(2)(18)O/O(2) ice mixtures. The formation of molecular hydrogen, isotopically substituted oxygen molecules (18)O(18)O and (16)O(18)O, ozone ((16)O(16)O(16)O, (16)O(16)O(18)O, and (16)O(18)O(16)O), hydrogen peroxide (H(18)O(18)OH, H(16)O(16)OH and H(16)O(18)OH), hydrotrioxy (HOOO), and dihydrogentrioxide (HOOOH) were detected. Kinetic models and reaction mechanisms are proposed to form these molecules in water and oxygen-rich solar system ices.