Unraveling The Chemistry Of Venus: Exploring The Spectroscopy And Photochemistry Of Sulfur And Chlorine-Based Molecules

Sulfur and chlorine-based molecules are intriguing to study given their applicability to Venus’s atmosphere which is difficult to investigate given the optically dense clouds covering the planet and the existence of a mystery near UV absorber. Furthermore, sulfur and halogen-containing molecules are involved in the chemistry of Earth’s atmosphere, especially that which occurs within volcanic plumes. We will report on our investigation of the spectroscopy and photochemistry of the intermediate chemical reaction species, involving Cl, S, and O such as ClSO, ClSO2, and ClSO3. We will discuss how these new species impact our current understanding of the coupling of chlorine and sulfur species in Venus's atmosphere.