Origin of the oxygen detected by the Viking stations in an analysis of Mars soil
Imshenetskiĭ, A.A.; Murzakov, B.G.; Dorofeeva, I.K.
Mikrobiologiia 47(4): 699-705
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-3656 PMID: 703649 Document Number: 128482
Reactions between the mineral limonite and hydrogen peroxide were studied and gases produced thereupon were analysed by gas chromatography. Oxygen did not evolve if limonite was added to hydrogen peroxide frozen at a temperature of dry ice. However, at room temperature, a vigorous chemical reaction occurred and a large amount of oxygen evolved. Apparently, the ground of Mars contains not only hydrated iron oxides but also frozen hydrogen peroxide whose thawing in the incubation chamber of Viking resulted in its catalytic degradation under the action of iron ions. The evidence thus obtained and its comparison with the data of American scientists account for considerable evolution of oxygen detected by Viking upon analysis of the Mars ground.