Chemical Reactions in Space

Temperature plays an important role in chemical reactions on Earth. Most substances need to be brought to the right temperature for the chemical reaction to take place. Otherwise they may remain inert till the optimum temperature has been reached.

Imagine if the temperature drops drastically, how will chemical reactions take place? In outer space the temperature of objects varies depending on their proximity to the sun. A comet heats up as it approaches the sun, but cools off when it shoots out towards the outer recesses of space after crossing the sun at some distance.

The reaction speed of any two chemicals is usually linked to their temperatures. So if the chemical reaction takes about two minutes in average conditions on the surface of the planet, how will the same reaction take place on the International Space Station? Much more slowly, since the temperatures will be lower.

Although if they are placed in a controlled environment with temperatures similar to earth, it would be the same reaction time. Now if they were placed without protection in outer space, they would also have to deal with high energy cosmic rays and ultraviolet rays that can heat up objects and increase the reaction time. This is an ongoing science project.