PHOSPHORUS CHEMISTRY INT HE ATMOSPHERE OF JUPITER - A REASSESSMENT

A new distribution of phosphorus compounds in the atmosphere of Jupite r is given, using revised values for the chemical constants. In contra st with previous works, it is shown that phosphine PH3 remains the mos t abundant equilibrium gaseous compound even at the upper levels of Ju piter's troposphere. The observed PH3 abundance is equal to the equili brium value, at all temperatures above 535 K for solar P and O element al abundances, and above 600 It for a reasonable range of P and O abun dances. P4O6 does not take part in the phosphorus cycle on Jupiter. (C ) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.