PRIMARY SOURCES OF PHOSPHORUS AND PHOSPHATES IN CHEMICAL EVOLUTION

In this work we consider the role of phosphorus in chemical evolution from an interdisciplinary approach. First we briefly review the presen ce of this element in different cosmic sites, such as massive stellar cores, circumstellar and interstellar clouds, meteorites, lunar and Ma rtian samples, interplanetary dust particles, cometary dust and planet ary atmospheres. Thus we illustrate the fact that phosphorus seems to be, at the same time, scarce and ubiquitous in the solar system. After wards, by comparing the phosphorus content of our planet's main reserv oirs with the amount of cometary and meteoritic matter captured by the primitive Earth, we conclude that comets may have provided a primary source for phosphorus compounds of prebiotic interest. Finally, we mak e a number of proposals aimed to gain observational supporting evidenc e to the above conclusion and other suggestions made in the article.