List of molecules in interstellar space
This is a list of molecules that have been detected in the interstellar medium, as of 2003. These molecules were detected using radio telescopes to examine the spectra of interstellar clouds.
Diatomic
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| AlF3 | Aluminum fluoride |
| AlCl | Aluminum monochloride |
| C2 | Carbon dimer |
| CH | Methylidyne radical |
| CH+ | Methylidyne cation |
| CN | Cyanogen radical |
| CO | Carbon monoxide |
| CO+ | Carbon monoxide cation |
| CP | Carbon monophosphide |
| CS | Carbon monosulfide |
| CSi | Carborundum |
| H2 | Molecular Hydrogen |
| HCl | Hydrogen chloride |
| HF | Hydrogen fluoride |
| NH | Nitrogen monohydride |
| NO | Nitrogen monoxide |
| NS | Nitrogen sulfide |
| NaCl | Sodium chloride |
| OH- | Hydroxyl radical |
| PN | Phosphorus nitride |
| SH | Sulfur hydride |
| SO | Sulfur monoxide |
| SO+ | Sulfur monoxide cation |
| SiN | Silicon mononitride |
Triatomic
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| AlNC | Aluminum isocyanide |
| C3 | Carbon trimer |
| C2H | Ethynyl radical |
| C2O | Carbene |
| C2S | |
| CO2 | Carbon dioxide |
| H3+ | |
| HCN | Hydrogen cyanide |
| HNC | Hydrogen isocyanide |
| HCO | Formyl radical |
| HCO+ | Formyl cation |
| HCS+ | Thioformyl cation |
| HOC+ | Hydroxymethylidynium |
| H2O | Water |
| HDO | Deuterated water |
| H2S | Hydrogen sulfide |
| HNO | |
| MgCN | Magnesium cyanide |
| MgNC | Magnesium isocyanide |
| N2H+ | Diazenylium |
| N2O | Nitrous oxide |
| NH2 | |
| NaCN | Sodium cyanide |
| OCS | Carbonyl sulfide |
| SO2 | Sulfur dioxide |
| c-SiC2 | c-Silicon dicarbide |
| SiCN |
Four atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| c-C3H | c-propynlidyne |
| l-C3H | l-propynlidyne |
| C3N | Cyanoethynyl |
| C3O | Tricarbon monoxide |
| C3S | Tricarbon sulfide |
| C2H2 | Acetylene |
| CH2D+ | |
| HCCN | |
| HCNH+ | Protonated hydrogen cyanide cation |
| HNCO | Isocyanic acid |
| HNCS | Isothiocyanic acid |
| HOCO+ | Protonated carbon dioxide cation |
| H2CN | Methylene imino radical |
| H2CO | Formaldehyde |
| H2CS | Thioformaldehyde |
| H3O+ | Hydronium cation |
| NH3 | Ammonia |
| SiC3 |
Five atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| C5 | |
| C4H | Butadiynyl |
| C4N | |
| C4Si | |
| l-C3H2 | l-cyclopropenyliden |
| c-C3H2 | c-cyclopropenyliden |
| CH2CN | Cyanomethyl |
| CH2NH | Methylenimine |
| CH4 | Methane |
| HC3N | Cyanoacetylene |
| HC3NC | |
| HCOOH | Formic acid |
| H2CHC | |
| H2COH+ | |
| H2C2O | Ketene |
| HC3N | Cyanoacetylene |
| H2NCN | Hydrogen cyanamide |
| SiH4 | Silane |
Six atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| C5H | Pentynylidyne |
| C2H4 | Ethylene |
| CH3CN | Acetonitrile |
| CH3NC | Methyl isonitrile |
| CH3OH | Methanol |
| CH3SH | Methyl mercaptan |
| C5H | |
| l-H2C4 | |
| HC3NH+ | |
| HC2CHO | Propynal |
| NH2CHO | Formamide |
Seven atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| C6H | Hexatriynyl |
| CH2CHCN | Acrylonitrile |
| CH3C2H | Propyne |
| c-C2H4O | Ethylene oxide |
| CH2CHOH | Polyvinyl alcohol |
| HC5N | Cyanodiacetylene |
| HCOCH3 | Acetaldehyde |
| NH2CH3 | Methylamine |
Eight atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| CH3C3N | Methylcyanoacetylene |
| C7H | |
| CH2OHCHO | Glycolaldehyde |
| H2C6 | Hexapentaenylidene |
| HCOOCH3 | Methyl formate |
Nine atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| CH3C4H | Methyldiacetylene |
| CH3CH2CN | Propionitrile |
| (CH3)2O | Dimethyl Ether |
| CH3CH2OH | n-Ethyl Alcohol |
| C8H | |
| HC7N | Cyanotriacetylene |
Ten Atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| (CH3)2CO | Acetone |
| NH2CH2COOH | Glycine |
Eleven Atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| HC9N | Cyanotetra-acetylene |
Twelve atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| C6H6 | Benzene |
Thirteen atoms
| Molecule | Designation |
|---|---|
| HC11N | Cyanodecapentayne |
See also
External links
- NRAO Interstellar and Circumstellar Molecules (http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/allmols.html)