Chemical evolution of dense clouds

Abstract

Attention is given to chemical processes which could determine the molecular composition of the cloud during the several stages of its evolution, taking into account thermal reactions at the relatively high interstellar densities expected during the processes. The origin of the observed molecules is discussed together with questions of molecular evolution during collapse of the cloud and the role of organic molecules in planetary chemical evolution. A number of experiments are also considered along with the application of the experimental results to cloud equilibrium problems.