Infrared Band Strengths and Other Properties of Three Interstellar Compounds—Amorphous Isocyanic Acid, Formaldehyde, and Formic Acid

Abstract

Infrared (IR) spectral features of interstellar and solar system ices have been attributed to solid organic and inorganic compounds for over 50 yr, but in many cases the laboratory IR data needed to fully quantify such work have never been published, forcing researchers to rely on assumptions about gas- or liquid-phase measurements to interpret data for ices. Here, we report the first mid-IR intensity measurements for isocyanic acid (HNCO) ices that are free of such assumptions, providing new results for use by both observational and laboratory astrochemists. We also report similar new IR data for both formaldehyde (H _2 CO) and formic acid (HCOOH), which have been discussed in the astrochemical literature for decades, but again without adequate laboratory data to help quantify observational results. Densities and refractive indices of HNCO, H _2 CO, and HCOOH as amorphous ices also are reported. Two applications of the new H _2 CO work are presented, the first vapor-pressure measurements of solid H _2 CO, along with an enthalpy of sublimation, at 100 to 109 K and a set of IR intensities of H _2 CO in H _2 O + H _2 CO ices. Band strengths, absorption coefficients, and optical constants are calculated for all three compounds. Extensive comparisons are made to older results, which are not recommended for future use.

Keywords

• Interstellar molecules
• Laboratory astrophysics
• Ice spectroscopy
• Chemical abundances
• Astrochemistry