Chemistry in a Can
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2014
Location
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-20-2013 9:00 AM
End Date
4-20-2013 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Chemistry
Abstract
Interstellar medium (ISM), the space between stars, is thought to be the location where molecules such as water are originated. So far, there have only been 150 molecules identified in the ISM. This low number implies that our knowledge is limited on how these molecules are formed and processed within the ISM. The temperatures within the ISM range from 20 K to 100 K and pressures get as low as 1x10-9 torr. Under such extreme conditions, chemical reactions do not proceed the same way they would on Earth. Therefore, we are interested in building a custom instrument that can replicate space conditions and allow us to conduct chemical reactions important to space. My part involved building the first vacuum chamber (out of three) and designing a Faraday cup as an ion detector.
Chemistry in a Can
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Interstellar medium (ISM), the space between stars, is thought to be the location where molecules such as water are originated. So far, there have only been 150 molecules identified in the ISM. This low number implies that our knowledge is limited on how these molecules are formed and processed within the ISM. The temperatures within the ISM range from 20 K to 100 K and pressures get as low as 1x10-9 torr. Under such extreme conditions, chemical reactions do not proceed the same way they would on Earth. Therefore, we are interested in building a custom instrument that can replicate space conditions and allow us to conduct chemical reactions important to space. My part involved building the first vacuum chamber (out of three) and designing a Faraday cup as an ion detector.