Penn Chemists Identify Important Intermediate Molecule in Production of 'Atmosphere's Detergent'
A University of Pennsylvania team has observed rapid atmospheric reactions in the lab and identified an important intermediate molecule in Earth’s atmosphere. By tracking the molecule’s transformation to hydroxyl radicals, they are better able to predict how the atmosphere will respond to environmental changes. Their research helps to explain how the atmosphere maintains its reserves of hydroxyl radicals, which break down greenhouse gases like methane.
The study, published in Science, was led by Edmund J. Kahn Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Marsha Lester, along with members of her lab: graduate student Fang Liu and postdoctoral researcher Joseph Beames. They collaborated with Andrew Petit, also a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry, and Anne McCoy, professor of chemistry at The Ohio State University.
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