This is a list of molecules that have been detected in the interstellar medium, as of 2003. These molecules were detected using radio telescopes to examine the spectra of interstellar clouds.
Diatomic
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
AlF | Aluminum fluoride |
AlCl | Aluminum monochloride |
C2 | Carbon dimer |
CH | Methylidyne radical |
CH+ | Methylidyne cation |
CN | Cyanogen radical |
CO | Carbon monoxide |
CO+ | Carbon monoxide cation |
CP | Carbon monophosphide |
CS | Carbon monosulfide |
CSi | Carborundum |
H2 | Molecular Hydrogen |
HCl | Hydrogen chloride |
HF | Hydrogen fluoride |
NH | Nitrogen monohydride |
NO | Nitrogen monoxide |
NS | Nitrogen sulfide |
NaCl | Sodium chloride |
OH | Hydroxyl radical |
PN | Phosphorus nitride |
SH | Sulfur hydride |
SO | Sulfur monoxide |
SO+ | Sulfur monoxide cation |
SiN | Silicon mononitride |
Triatomic
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
AlNC | Aluminum isocyanide |
C3 | Carbon trimer |
C2H | Ethynyl radical |
C2O | Carbene |
C2S | |
CO2 | Carbon dioxide |
H3+ | |
HCN | Hydrogen cyanide |
HNC | Hydrogen isocyanide |
HCO | Formyl radical |
HCO+ | Formyl cation |
HCS+ | Thioformyl cation |
HOC+ | Hydroxymethylidynium |
H2O | Water |
HDO | Deuterated water |
H2S | Hydrogen sulfide |
HNO | |
MgCN | Magnesium cyanide |
MgNC | Magnesium isocyanide |
N2H+ | Diazenylium |
N2O | Nitrous oxide |
NH2 | |
NaCN | Sodium cyanide |
OCS | Carbonyl sulfide |
SO2 | Sulfur dioxide |
c-SiC2 | c-Silicon dicarbide |
SiCN |
Four atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
c-C3H | c-propynlidyne |
l-C3H | l-propynlidyne |
C3N | Cyanoethynyl |
C3O | Tricarbon monoxide |
C3S | Tricarbon sulfide |
C2H2 | Acetylene |
CH2D+ | |
HCCN | |
HCNH+ | Protonated hydrogen cyanide cation |
HNCO | Isocyanic acid |
HNCS | Isothiocyanic acid |
HOCO+ | Protonated carbon dioxide cation |
H2CN | Methylene imino radical |
H2CO | Formaldehyde |
H2CS | Thioformaldehyde |
H3O+ | Hydronium cation |
NH3 | Ammonia |
SiC3 |
Five atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
C5 | |
C4H | Butadiynyl |
C4N | |
C4Si | |
l-C3H2 | l-cyclopropenyliden |
c-C3H2 | c-cyclopropenyliden |
CH2CN | Cyanomethyl |
CH2NH | Methylenimine |
CH4 | Methane |
HC3N | Cyanoacetylene |
HC3NC | |
HCOOH | Formic acid |
H2CHC | |
H2COH+ | |
H2C2O | Ketene |
HC3N | Cyanoacetylene |
H2NCN | Hydrogen cyanamide |
SiH4 | Silane |
Six atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
C5H | Pentynylidyne |
C2H4 | Ethylene |
CH3CN | Acetonitrile |
CH3NC | Methyl isonitrile |
CH3OH | Methanol |
CH3SH | Methyl mercaptan |
C5H | |
l-H2C4 | |
HC3NH+ | |
HC2CHO | Propynal |
NH2CHO | Formamide |
Seven atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
C6H | Hexatriynyl |
CH2CHCN | Acrylonitrile |
CH3C2H | Propyne |
c-C2H4O | Ethylene oxide |
CH2CHOH | Polyvinyl alcohol |
HC5N | Cyanodiacetylene |
HCOCH3 | Acetaldehyde |
NH2CH3 | Methylamine |
Eight atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
CH3C3N | Methylcyanoacetylene |
C7H | |
CH2OHCHO | Glycolaldehyde |
H2C6 | Hexapentaenylidene |
HCOOCH3 | Methyl formate |
Nine atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
CH3C4H | Methyldiacetylene |
CH3CH2CN | Propionitrile |
(CH3)2O | Dimethyl Ether |
CH3CH2OH | Ethanol |
C8H | |
HC7N | Cyanotriacetylene |
Ten Atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
(CH3)2CO | Acetone |
NH2CH2COOH | Glycine |
Eleven Atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
HC9N | Cyanotetra-acetylene |
Twelve atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
C6H6 | Benzene |
Thirteen atoms
Molecule | Designation |
---|---|
HC11N | Cyanodecapentayne |