Formic Acid, a Ubiquitous but Overlooked Component of the Early Earth Atmosphere

Abstract

Terrestrial volcanism has been one of the dominant geological forces shaping our planet since its earliest existence. Its associated phenomena, like atmospheric lightning and hydrothermal activity, provide a rich energy reservoir for chemical syntheses. Based on our laboratory simulations, we propose that on the early Earth volcanic activity inevitably led to a remarkable production of formic acid through various independent reaction channels. Large-scale availability of atmospheric formic acid supports the idea of the high-temperature accumulation of formamide in this primordial environment.

Keywords: CO2 reduction; formic acid; hydrothermal synthesis; laser chemistry; prebiotic synthesis.