The DOI matches its Crossref record; 49 of the 51 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Reanalysis of the Viking results suggests perchlorate and organics at midlatitudes on Mars
Open accessAbstract
The most comprehensive search for organics in the Martian soil was performed by the Viking Landers. Martian soil was subjected to a thermal volatilization process to vaporize and break organic molecules, and the resultant gases and volatiles were analyzed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Only water at 0.1–1.0 wt% was detected, with traces of chloromethane at 15 ppb, at Viking landing site 1, and water at 0.05–1.0 wt% and carbon dioxide at 50–700 ppm, with traces of dichloromethane at 0.04–40 ppb, at Viking landing site 2. These chlorohydrocarbons were considered to be terrestrial contaminants, although they had not been detected at those levels in the blank runs. Recently, perchlorate was discovered in the Martian Arctic soil by the Phoenix Lander. Here we show that when Mars‐like soils from the Atacama Desert containing 32 ± 6 ppm of organic carbon are mixed with 1 wt% magnesium perchlorate and heated, nearly all the organics present are decomposed to water and carbon dioxide, but a small amount is chlorinated, forming 1.6 ppm of chloromethane and 0.02 ppm of dichloromethane at 500°C. A chemical kinetics model was developed to predict the degree of oxidation and chlorination of organics in the Viking oven. Reinterpretation of the Viking results therefore suggests ≤0.1% perchlorate and 1.5–6.5 ppm organic carbon at landing site 1 and ≤0.1% perchlorate and 0.7–2.6 ppm organic carbon at landing site 2. The detection of organics on Mars is important to assess locations for future experiments to detect life itself.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“More recently, the Phoenix lander detected perchlorates in the martian surface, which could explain the nondetection of organics even if present (Navarro-González et al., 2010). Perchlorate is highly oxidizing at the elevated temperatures of pyrolytic experiments and so may have destroyed martian organics before detection.”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Navarro-González et al., 2010
Citations
Cites
Nist chemistry webbook, nist standard reference database number 69
Linstorm, P. (1998) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,606
Detection of perchlorate and the soluble chemistry of martian soil at the phoenix lander site
Hecht, M. H., Kounaves, S. P., Quinn, R. C., West, S. J., Young, S. M. M., Ming, D. W., Catling, D. C., Clark, B. C., Boynton, W. V., Hoffman, J., et al. (2009) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1172466 · Cited by 1,166
The search for organic substances and inorganic volatile compounds in the surface of Mars
BIEMANN, K., Oro, J. A., Toulmin, P., Orgel, L. E., Nier, A. O. C., Anderson, D. M., Simmonds, P. G., Flory, D. A., Diaz, A. V., Rushneck, D. R., et al. (1977) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/js082i028p04641 · Cited by 609
Mars-Like Soils in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and the Dry Limit of Microbial Life
Navarro-González, R., Rainey, F. A., Molina, P., Bagaley, D. R., Hollen, B. J., de la Rosa, J., Small, A. M., Quinn, R. C., Grunthaner, F. J., Cáceres, L., et al. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1089143 · Cited by 603
Self-citation(1998) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.35sup-215 · Cited by 441
Alpha Particle X‐Ray Spectrometer (APXS): Results from Gusev crater and calibration report
Gellert, R., Rieder, R., Brückner, J., Clark, B. C., DREIBUS, G., Klingelhöfer, G., Lugmair, G. W., Ming, D. W., Wänke, H., Yen, A. S., et al. (2006) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2005je002555 · Cited by 431
Chemistry of Rocks and Soils at Meridiani Planum from the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
Rieder, R., Gellert, R., Anderson, R. C., Brückner, J., Clark, B. C., DREIBUS, G., Economou, T. E., Klingelhöfer, G., Lugmair, G. W., Ming, D. W., et al. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1104358 · Cited by 420
Chemical composition of Martian fines
Clark, B. C., Baird, A. K., Weldon, R. J., Tsusaki, D. M., Schnabel, L., & Candelaria, M. P. (1982) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth · doi:10.1029/jb087ib12p10059 · Cited by 409
Acuchem: A computer program for modeling complex chemical reaction systems
Braun, W., Herron, J. T., & Kahaner, D. K. (1988) · International Journal of Chemical Kinetics · doi:10.1002/kin.550200107 · Cited by 355
Clark, B. (1981) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(81)90041-5 · Cited by 344
Chemistry of Rocks and Soils in Gusev Crater from the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
Gellert, R., Rieder, R., Anderson, R. C., Brückner, J., Clark, B. C., DREIBUS, G., Economou, T. E., Klingelhöfer, G., Lugmair, G. W., Ming, D. W., et al. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1099913 · Cited by 332
Atmospheric origins of perchlorate on Mars and in the Atacama
Catling, D. C., Claire, M. W., Zahnle, K. J., Quinn, R. C., Clark, B. C., Hecht, M. H., & Kounaves, S. P. (2010) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2009je003425 · Cited by 322
BIEMANN, K., Oro, J. A., Toulmin, P., Orgel, L. E., Nier, A. O. C., Anderson, D. M., Simmonds, P. G., Flory, D. A., Diaz, A. V., Rushneck, D. R., et al. (1976) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.194.4260.72 · Cited by 315
Michalski, G. M., Böhlke, J. K., & Thiemens, M. H. (2004) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2004.04.009 · Cited by 308
Geology and origin of the Chilean nitrate deposits
Ericksen, G. E. (1981) · USGS professional paper · doi:10.3133/pp1188 · Cited by 282
NIST Chemical Kinetics Database
Mallard, W. G., Westley, F., Herron, J. T., Hampson, R. F., & Frizzell, D. H. (1998) · Cited by 260
Thermal Decomposition and Combustion of Explosives and Propellants
Manelis, G. B. (2003) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781482288261 · Cited by 246
Inorganic Analyses of Martian Surface Samples at the Viking Landing Sites
Clark, B. C., Baird, A. K., Rose, H. J., Toulmin, P., Keil, K., Castro, A. J., Kelliher, W. C., Rowe, C. D., & Evans, P. H. (1976) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.194.4271.1283 · Cited by 214
(1906) · Journal of the Franklin Institute · doi:10.1016/s0016-0032(06)90310-x · Cited by 193
Chlorine isotope homogeneity of the mantle, crust and carbonaceous chondrites
Sharp, Z. D., Barnes, J. D., BREARLEY, A. J., Chaussidon, M., Fischer, T. P., & Kamenetsky, V. S. (2007) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05748 · Cited by 193
Discovery of Natural Perchlorate in the Antarctic Dry Valleys and Its Global Implications
Kounaves, S. P., Stroble, S. T., Anderson, R. M., Moore, Q., Catling, D. C., Douglas, S., McKay, C. P., Ming, D. W., Smith, P. H., Tamppari, L. K., et al. (2010) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es9033606 · Cited by 186
Self-citationChemical Composition of Rocks and Soils at the Pathfinder Site
Wänke, H., Brückner, J., DREIBUS, G., Rieder, R., & Ryabchikov, I. D. (2001) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1023/a:1011961725645 · Cited by 180
Navarro-González, R., Navarro, K. F., de la Rosa, J. M., Iñiguez, E., Molina, P., Miranda, L. D., Morales‐Puente, P., Cienfuegos, E., Coll, P., Raulin, F., et al. (2006) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0604210103 · Cited by 174
Self-citationChemical Composition of Rocks and Soils at the Pathfinder Site
Wänke, H., Brückner, J., DREIBUS, G., Rieder, R., & Ryabchikov, I. D. (2001) · Space sciences series of ISSI · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-1035-0_11 · Cited by 155
Equatorial and midlatitude distribution of chlorine measured by Mars Odyssey GRS
Keller, J. M., Boynton, W. V., Karunatillake, S., Baker, V. R., Dohm, J. M., Evans, L. G., Finch, M. J., Hahn, B. C., Hamara, D., Janes, D. M., et al. (2006) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2006je002679 · Cited by 155
Mineralogic and Petrologic Implications of Viking Geochemical Results From Mars: Interim Report
Baird, A. K., Toulmin, P., Clark, B. C., Rose, H. J., Keil, K., Christian, R. P., & Gooding, J. L. (1976) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.194.4271.1288 · Cited by 152
Final chemical results from the Mars Pathfinder alpha proton X‐ray spectrometer
Foley, C. N., Economou, T., & Clayton, R. N. (2003) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets · doi:10.1029/2002je002019 · Cited by 148
Brückner, J., DREIBUS, G., Rieder, R., & Wänke, H. (2003) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2003je002060 · Cited by 115
Whitehead, W. L. (1920) · Economic Geology · doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.15.3.187 · Cited by 111
Perchlorates: Their properties, manufacture and uses
(1961) · Journal of the Franklin Institute · doi:10.1016/0016-0032(61)90722-0 · Cited by 103
Production of hydrogen peroxide in Martian and lunar soils
Hurowitz, J. A., Tosca, N. J., McLennan, S. M., & Schoonen, M. A. A. (2007) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.12.004 · Cited by 98 · cited 1×
“…at temperatures ≥200°C. Freshly ground basaltic minerals produce sufficient quantities of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) when immersed in liquid water [Hurowitz et al., 2007] or hydroxyl radicals when heated [Iñiguez et al., 2009], to explain the oxidizing characteristics of Martian soil samples…”
BackgroundPerchlorate in the environment: the emerging emphasis on natural occurrence
Parker, D. R. (2009) · Environmental Chemistry · doi:10.1071/en09001 · Cited by 69
Klenø, J. G., Wolkoff, P., Clausen, P. A., Wilkins, C. K., & Pedersen, T. (2002) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es025680f · Cited by 68
Gas Chromatographic Column for the Viking 1975 Molecular Analysis Experiment
Novotný, M. V., Hayes, J. M., Bruner, F., & Simmonds, P. G. (1975) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.189.4198.215 · Cited by 46
Acheson, R. J., & Jacobs, P. W. M. (1970) · The Journal of Physical Chemistry · doi:10.1021/j100697a010 · Cited by 44
Navarro-González, R., Iñiguez, E., de la Rosa, J. M., & McKay, C. P. (2009) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0284 · Cited by 38
Self-citationMing, D. W., Morris, R. V., Niles, B., Lauer, H. V., Archer, P. D., Sutter, B., Boynton, W. V., & Golden, D. C. (2009) · NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA) · Cited by 32
CHEMEQ2: A Solver for the Stiff Ordinary Differential Equations of Chemical Kinetics
Mott, D. R., & Oran, E. S. (2001) · doi:10.21236/ada385560 · Cited by 30
Occurrence and Formation of Non-Anthropogenic Perchlorate
Jackson, W. A., Anderson, T. A., Harvey, G., Orris, G. J., Rajagopalan, S., & Kang, N. (2006) · Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks · doi:10.1007/0-387-31113-0_3 · Cited by 22
Toxic organic vapors in the workplace
(1994) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.31-3792 · Cited by 15
Pyrolysis–gas chromatography of chloroorganic compounds in precipitation
Łaniewski, K., Borén, H. B., Grimvall, A. B., & Ekelund, M. (1998) · Journal of Chromatography A · doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(98)00751-1 · Cited by 13
Iñiguez, E., Navarro-González, R., de la Rosa, J., Ureña‐Núñez, F., Coll, P., Raulin, F., & McKay, C. P. (2009) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/2009gl040454 · Cited by 9
Self-citationMing, D. W., Morris, R. V., Lauer, H. V., Sutter, B., Golden, D. C., & Boynton, W. V. (2009) · NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA) · Cited by 8
Kotler, J. M., Hinman, N. W., Richardson, C. D., Conly, A. G., & Scott, J. R. (2009) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2009.06.019 · Cited by 8
Chlorine Abundances in Martian Meteorites
Bogard, D. D., Garrison, D. H., & Park, J. (2009) · NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) · Cited by 5
Nakamura, N., Nyquist, L. E., Reese, Y., Shih, C. Y., Numata, M., Fujitani, T., & Okano, O. (2009) · NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) · Cited by 2
Chapter 1 Real-World Kinetics via Simulations
Houle, F. A., & Hinsberg, W. D. (2006) · Annual reports in computational chemistry · doi:10.1016/s1574-1400(06)02001-9 · Cited by 2
Hall, W. T., & Marvin, G. G. (1945) · Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Analytical Edition · doi:10.1021/i560148a025 · Cited by 1
Integrators for Stiff ODEs in Simulations of Reacting Flows
Mott, D. R., Oran, E. S., & van Leer, B. (1998) · APS · Cited by 1
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Spectral evidence for hydrated salts in recurring slope lineae on Mars
Ojha, L., Wilhelm, M. B., Murchie, S. L., McEwen, A. S., Wray, J. J., Hanley, J., Massé, M., & Chojnacki, M. (2015) · Nature Geoscience · doi:10.1038/ngeo2546 · Cited by 617
The Sample Analysis at Mars Investigation and Instrument Suite
Mahaffy, P. R., Webster, C. R., Cabane, M., Conrad, P. G., Coll, P., Atreya, S. K., Arvey, R., Barciniak, M., Benna, M., Bleacher, L. V., et al. (2012) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9879-z · Cited by 596
Self-citationOrganic matter preserved in 3-billion-year-old mudstones at Gale crater, Mars
Eigenbrode, J. L., Summons, R. E., Steele, A., Freissinet, C., Millan, M., Navarro-González, R., Sutter, B., McAdam, A. C., Franz, H. B., Glavin, D. P., et al. (2018) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aas9185 · Cited by 558
Self-citationSubmarine groundwater discharge impacts on coastal nutrient biogeochemistry
Santos, I. R., Chen, X., Lecher, A. L., Sawyer, A. H., Moosdorf, N., Rodellas, V., Tamborski, J., Cho, H.-M., Dimova, N., Sugimoto, R., et al. (2021) · Nature Reviews Earth & Environment · doi:10.1038/s43017-021-00152-0 · Cited by 494
Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars
Freissinet, C., Glavin, D. P., Mahaffy, P. R., Miller, K. E., Eigenbrode, J. L., Summons, R. E., Brunner, A. E., Buch, A., Szopa, C., Archer, P. D., et al. (2015) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets · doi:10.1002/2014je004737 · Cited by 516
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Navarro‐González, R., Vargas, E., de la Rosa, J., Raga, A. C., & McKay, C. P.
- Affiliations
- Laboratorio de Química de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria Mexico City Mexico
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2010-12
- Volume
- 115
- Issue
- E12
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1970425118
- Cited by
- 384
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 13.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Keywords
- Viking landers, perchlorate, methyl chloride, dichloromethane, thermal volatilization, organic carbon, chemical kinetic modeling
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
