English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

We report new computational and experimental evidence of an efficient andastrochemically relevant formation route to formaldehyde (H$_2$CO). Thissimplest carbonylic compound is central to the formation of complex organics incold interstellar clouds, and is generally regarded to be formed by thehydrogenation of solid-state carbon monoxide. We demonstrate H$_2$CO formationvia the reaction of carbon atoms with amorphous solid water. Crucial to ourproposed mechanism is a concerted proton transfer catalyzed by the waterhydrogen bonding network. Consequently, the reactions $^3$C + H$_2$O ->$^3$HCOH and $^1$HCOH -> $^1$H$_2$CO can take place with low or withoutbarriers, contrary to the high-barrier traditional internal hydrogen migration.These low barriers or absence thereof explain the very small kinetic isotopeeffect in our experiments when comparing the formation of H$_2$CO to D$_2$CO.Our results reconcile the disagreement found in the literature on the reactionroute: C + H$_2$O -> H$_2$CO.

Carbon Atom Reactivity with Amorphous Solid Water: H$_2$O Catalyzed Formation of H$_2$CO