Formaldehyde (FA) is an important precursor in the abiotic synthesis of major biomolecules including amino acids, sugars, and nucleobases. Thus, spontaneous formation of prebiotic FA must have been crucial for the chemical origin of life. The frequent impacts of meteorites and asteroids on Hadean Earth have been considered one of the abiotic synthetic processes of organic compounds. However, the impact-induced formation of FA from CO₂ as the major atmospheric constituent has not been confirmed yet. This study investigated the formation of FA in impact-induced reactions among meteoritic minerals, bicarbonate, gaseous nitrogen, and water to simulate the abiotic process experimentally. Products were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. The results show the formation of FA and oxidation of metallic iron to siderite in the impact shock experiments. This indicates that this important prebiotic molecule was also synthesized by impacts of iron-bearing meteorites/asteroids on the Hadean oceans. The impact events might have generated spatially and temporally FA-enriched localized environments. Moreover, the impact-induced synthesis of FA may have also occurred on Noachian Mars given the presence of liquid water and a CO₂-N₂-rich atmosphere on the planet.

中文翻译：

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冥王星和诺亚奇撞击形成甲醛的实验研究

甲醛 (FA) 是主要生物分子（包括氨基酸、糖和核碱基）的非生物合成的重要前体。因此，益生元 FA 的自发形成必定对生命的化学起源至关重要。陨石和小行星对冥界地球的频繁撞击被认为是有机化合物的非生物合成过程之一。然而，撞击诱导的 CO ₂形成 FA因为主要的大气成分尚未得到证实。本研究调查了陨石矿物、碳酸氢盐、气态氮和水之间撞击引起的反应中 FA 的形成，以通过实验模拟非生物过程。产品采用超高效液相色谱/串联质谱和粉末 X 射线衍射技术进行分析。结果表明在冲击冲击实验中形成了 FA 和金属铁氧化成菱铁矿。这表明这个重要的益生元分子也是由含铁陨石/小行星对冥王洋的撞击合成的。撞击事件可能在空间和时间上产生了富含 FA 的局部环境。而且，地球上富含₂ -N _{2 的}大气。