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astrochemistry

astrochemistry

7.4
The study of chemicals and reactions in space, especially in stars and clouds between stars
  • noun
  • /ˌæstroʊˈkɛmɪstri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : astroquímica
  • NASA conducts groundbreaking research in astrochemistry to explore the composition of interstellar clouds.
  • astrochemistry lab at NASA
  • astrochemistry lab

Second of all, these are really nitty gritty astrobiology and astrochemistry questions.

Examples

  • Is this scenario, advocated by the well-known British astrophysicist Fred Hoyle 20 years ago, see "Astrochemistry, Organic Molecules, and the Origin of Life," January/February 1978, p. 2, credible?

    Academic text (1996)
  • The study of astrochemistry helps us understand the chemical reactions occurring in distant stars.

  • Second of all, these are really nitty gritty astrobiology and astrochemistry questions.

  • By the way, NASA and its programs includes now astrobiology, astrochemistry, planetary geology.

  • The use of heavy-ion storage rings has contributed greatly to an improved understanding of processes in low-temperature plasmas, astrochemistry, and aeronomy.

    Academic text (2002)
  • 2006 Winter School students identified fingerprint molecules that might exist in interstellar space as precursors to life in the astrochemistry laboratory of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO).

    Academic text (2007)
  • Scientists in the field of astrochemistry analyze the elements found in meteoroids that enter Earth's atmosphere.

Synonyms

cosmochemistry
vsastrochemistry
  • Specialized
9.7

Study of the chemical makeup and changes of matter in space

focuses on chemical reactions in space especially stars and interstellar clouds

How Specialized

astrochemistry
  • Specialized
7.4
cosmochemistry
  • Specialized
9.7
physical chemistry
  • Specialized
1 4.8
chemistry
219 3.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

astrochemistry = chemistry (semi-transparent) = astro + chemistry

The term is built clearly from 'astro' plus 'chemistry', but the specialized sense 'chemistry in space' may not be fully predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Astrochemistry comes from astro- meaning 'star' and chemistry meaning 'the study of chemicals'. So astrochemistry is the study of chemicals and reactions in space, especially in stars and the clouds between them.