Chemistry of the Solar System

About this book

This book is an appealing, concise, and factual account of the chemistry of the solar system. It includes basic facts about the chemical composition of the different bodies in the solar system, the major chemical processes involved in the formation of the Sun, planets, and small objects, and the chemical processes that determine their current chemical make-up.

There are numerous informative summary tables and data is presented in graphical form which is useful for identifying common features of the major processes that determine the current chemical state of the planets. The book will interest general readers with a background in chemistry who would enjoy reading about the chemical diversity of the solar system's objects as well as an introductory textbook for graduate classes in planetary sciences.

Contents

The Elements in the Solar System; Meteorites; The Solar Nebula; The Solid Bodies in the Inner Solar System; Terrestrial Atmospheric Chemistry; The Greenhouse Effect and Biogeochemical Cycles on Earth; Atmospheric Chemistry on Venus and Mars; The Planets in the Outer Solar System; Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs

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Biography

Katharina Lodders is Research Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA. She is senior author with Dr. Fegley of The Planetary Scientist's Companion (Oxford University Press, 1998) and the author (or co-author) of over 80 refereed publications in scientific journals and books. Her experimental and theoretical research focuses on topics in cosmochemistry, planetary science, and astronomy. Bruce Fegley, Jr., is Professor of Planetary Sciences in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA. He is junior author with Dr. Lodders of The Planetary Scientist's Companion (Oxford University Press, 1998) and is senior author of Practical Chemical Thermodynamics for Geoscientists (Academic-Elsevier, scheduled for 2008) with Ms. Rose Osborne. He is the author (or co-author) of over 120 refereed publications in scientific journals and books. At present and over the past 16 years he has taught several advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in geochemistry and planetary science including "Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria," "Planetary Geochemistry," and "Earth System Science." Dr.Fegley received his S.B. in Chemistry and PhD. in Geochemistry at MIT and has 25 years of experience in geochemistry, cosmochemistry and planetary science.