Astrochemistry Laboratory
Cometary Molecules - The Cosmic Ice Laboratory - Sciences and Exploration Directorate - NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

The Cosmic Ice Laboratory - Cometary Molecules

The Cosmic Ice Laboratory - Cometary Molecules

Molecules with Two Atoms

CN
cyanide radical

CS
carbon monosulfide

CO
carbon monoxide

C2
diatomic carbon

CH
methylidyne

NH
imidyl radical

OH
hydroxyl radical

S2
diatomic sulfur

SH ?
mercapto radical

SO
sulfur monoxide

NS
nitrogen sulfide

NO ?
nitrous oxide

N2+

CO+

CH+

OH+

CN+

H2

Molecules with Three Atoms

H2O
water

HDO
monodeuterated water

H2O18
oxygen-18 water

CO2
carbon dioxide

C3
triatomic carbon

H2S
hydrogen sulfide

NH2
amidogen radical

SO2
sulfur dioxide

HCN
hydrogen cyanide

HNC
hydrogen isocyanide

HCO
formyl radical

OCS
carbonyl sulfide

H2O+

HCO+

CO2+

H2S+

CS2
carbon disulfide

CN2 ?

Molecules with Four Atoms

C2H2
acetylene

H2CO
formaldehyde

H2CS
thioformaldehyde

NH3
ammonia

HNCO
isocyanic acid

Molecules with Five Atoms

HCOOH
formic acid

HCC-CN
cyanoacetylene

CH4
methane

Molecules with Six Atoms

CH3OH
methyl alcohol

CH3CN
methyl cyanide

HC(O)NH2
formamide

Molecules with Seven Atoms

HC(O)CH3
acetaldehyde

Molecules with Eight Atoms

C2H6
ethane

HC(O)OCH3
methyl formate

Molecules with Ten Atoms

(OH)CH2CH2(OH)
ethylene glycol

Other Species

silicates

uncharacterized
hydrocarbons