The element phosphorus is a key part of biochemical systems.  The origin of phosphorylated biomolecules has remained an open question in origins of life research.  Extraterrestrial sources of phosphorus molecules include rocky and metallic sources in meteorites, and presumably some icy and organic sources from more cometary materials.  Is there a role for phosphorus in these cometary ices?  If so, how did the phosphorus get there?  Here I outline possible routes, including production of phosphine from metallic phosphide minerals, surface reactions on dust grains, and gas-solid reactions for production of organophosphorus compounds.  A possibility exists that the gas phosphine might be exceedingly rare as a major constituent carrier of phosphorus, as phosphine may react rapidly with metals to produce phosphides, thus removing P from the gas phase and hence ices.  Thus dust may have been an important part of forming organophosphorus compounds, by providing phosphorus-bearing minerals.<br/>

Primary phosphorus sources within extraterrestrial ices

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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