Introduction to Astrochemistry

Astrochemistry is a relatively new domain of chemistry but is very important because it helps us to know how the Universe was made.

We know that all the Universe is made of material and chemical elements. All the elements have an age. For example Lead was born from the transformation of Uranium 4.6 milliard years ago. Let's talk about stars! Our Sun is also a "chemistry object". We know that the stars are made of Hydrogen which is permanently transformed into Helium so that the stars became big "plasma balls" -- Plasma being the 4th state of aggregation after solid, liquid, and gas.

A recent article, "Milky Way Fortified with Calcium" by Sara Goudarzi, February, 2007 discloses that our Galaxy, the Milky Way, "is fortified with Calcium".

This course is a cooperative effort from the school of chemistry and the department of astronomy of the school of physics and astronomy.

Lectures

1. Astrochemistry,
2. Atmospheres,
3. Atmospheric astronomy,
4. Why planets lose their atmospheres,
5. Chemicals,
6. Comets,
7. Gaseous-object astronomy,
8. Intergalactic medium,
9. Interplanetary medium,
10. Interstellar medium,
11. Liquid-object astronomy,
12. Meteorites,
13. Minerals,
14. Mineral astronomy,
15. Nebulae,
16. Radiation chemistry, or Radiation astrochemistry,
17. Rocky-object astronomy, and
18. Rocks.

See also

• Topic:Astrochemistry
• School:Chemistry
• Radiation chemistry