There is ice on the scorching-hot Mercury? According to scientific speculation, this phenomenon is related to the reaction of hydroxyls with minerals on Mercury’s surface. In our solar system, Mercury is a planet very close to the Sun. Due to the solar influence, the surface temperature is high, reaching up to 430°C during the day and dropping to around -180°C at night, with a significant temperature difference between day and night. Despite these conditions, about ten billion tons of water ice are stored on the planet.
Hydroxyl Compounds
Due to the significant temperature differences between day and night on Mercury, the surface can remain very hot for extended periods. However, in the polar regions of Mercury, where the sun does not reach, temperatures in the deep craters can drop to -172°C. In these ultra-low temperature environments, water molecules can form ice. Recent research has found that water molecules in Mercury are actually produced in high temperatures of 400°C, with hydroxyls being a primary component of these minerals.
Reaction Process
Protons from the sun react with Mercury’s soil and hydroxyls, causing collisions between hydroxyls and solar protons when encountering Mercury’s surface temperature. This process forms water and oxygen molecules, and some of the water molecules are distributed at Mercury’s poles, turning into ice under varying conditions.
Density Concentration
Mercury has a very concentrated density, with an average of 5.427 grams per cubic meter, which is unmatched by any other planet in the solar system. This suggests that Mercury might have a metallic core and rock layers, although human exploration and research on Mercury are limited. It is known that Mercury has more mountains, valleys, and craters than even the Moon, indicating that there might be volcanic geological activity on Mercury.
