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Life is a complex, dynamic chemical system that requires a dense fluidsolvent in which to take place. A common assumption is that the most likelysolvent for life is liquid water, and some researchers argue that water is theonly plausible solvent. However a persistent theme in astrobiological researchpostulates that other liquids might be cosmically common, and could be solventsfor the chemistry of life. In this paper we present a new framework for theanalysis of candidate solvents for life, and deploy this framework to reviewsubstances that have been suggested as solvent candidates. Our approachaddresses all the requirements for a solvent, not just single chemicalproperties, and does so semi-quantitatively. Only the protonating solventsfulfil all the chemical requirements to be a solvent for life, and of thoseonly water and concentrated sulfuric acid are also likely to be abundant in arocky planetary context. Among the non-protonating solvents liquid CO2 standsout as a planetary solvent, and its potential as a solvent for life should beexplored. We conclude with a discussion of whether it is possible for abiochemistry to change solvents, as an adaptation to radical changes in aplanet's environment. Our analysis provides the basis for prioritizing futureexperimental work exploring potential complex chemistry on other planets.

Alternative solvents for life: framework for evaluation, current status and future research