Feasible solvents other than water?

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Vorthon
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Feasible solvents other than water?

Post #1by Vorthon » 22.10.2009, 17:41

I'm wondering what solvents other than water that could be used in a biochemistry existing at earth-like temperature? I'm interested in some of the more exotic alternative biochemistries speculated about. Any ideas?

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Hungry4info
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Re: Feasible solvents other than water?

Post #2by Hungry4info » 24.10.2009, 07:15

This site has some interesting articles on alternative biochemistry.
http://www.daviddarling.info/encycloped ... f_life.htm

Not sure if it has what you're looking for though.
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Topic author
Vorthon
Posts: 26
Joined: 21.04.2009
Age: 31
With us: 15 years 6 months

Re: Feasible solvents other than water?

Post #3by Vorthon » 25.10.2009, 01:17

I've been to that site, and I only found the most commonly used ones, so that's not much help.

I read something interesting that could make for an extremely exotic biochemistry: at pressures of 96 atm, hydrogen cyanide (in theory) stays liquid over a fairly water-like range, so given earth-like temperatures, a non-celluar biology and a rather strange biochemistry could develop. Seems highly unlikely though.


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