In 1976, Viking landers performed Labeled Release experiments that detected the oxidation of several 14C-labeled sugars and amino acids. The generally accepted explanation for the soil reactivity on Mars is the presence of unidentified inorganic oxidants. We have conducted experiments with dry HCl treated iron oxides and have demonstrated that a UV radiation of treated iron oxides results in the formation of chlorine gas. We have also demonstrated that iron oxides can retain some of the chlorine gas produced by UV irradiation, perhaps as chlorine oxide disproportionation products. We propose that HCl produced during past volcanic activity, or by volatile outgassing induced by periodic meteorite collisions results in the creation of photochemically reactive Fe(III)-Cl functional groups on the surface of the oxide, that upon UV irradiation yield chlorine gas. This active chlorine may atleast partially explain the reactivity of Mars soil.

Formation of chlorine gas by irradiation of dry HCl treated iron oxide as a possible explanation for the occurrence of Mars soil oxidants

239th National Meeting (2010)

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