Electric discharge synthesis of HCN in simulated Jovian atmospheres.

HCN has been detected in the Jovian atmosphere at a column density of about 2.2 x 10(-7) moles cm-2. While photochemical synthesis from methylamine and aziridine, upwelling, and lightning have been proposed as possible sources of this HCN, corona discharge has not been previously considered. HCN energy yields (moles J-1) were measured using corona discharge for gas mixtures containing H2, CH4, NH3, with H2/CH4 ratios from 4.4 to 1585. The yields are approximately proportional to the mole fraction of methane in the gas mixture. Assuming that the 3/1 ratio of corona discharge to lightning energy on the Earth applies to Jupiter, HCN column densities from corona discharge could account for approximately 10% of the observed HCN. These estimates are very dependent on the values used for the energy available as lightning on Jupiter and the eddy diffusion coefficients in the region of synthesis.