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Journal of Space Flight, v. 2, issue 9, November 1950

Page 6

                                                   6.
THE JOURNAL OF SPACE FLIGHT
As far as the life process is concerned the analogy ends here
however as it is difficutl to envision a metabolism whereby
SiO2 could be assimilated. Many other compoundsof carbon and
silicon are known and they differ greatly in character, -- there
are the respective haloggen compounds as an outstanding example.
Comparing carbon tetrachloride with silicon tetrachloride, we
 find that the former is a colorless liquid heavier than water
which is rather unreactive. Silicon tetrachloride however while
a colorless liquid reacts violently with water according to the equation
   SiCl4 + 3 H2O = H2SiO3 + 4 HCL
This illustrates well the differences between carbonand silicon compounds which have a vital bearing on the possibility of
 silicon life forms existing.  Life as we know it depends on water
for its existance and since a large area of our planet is so covered,
other suns may be suitabe in composition and atmosphere to supp-
ort life of some unknown form. In fact the feasibility of life
senses cannot be ruled out. For the present we are basing the 
conditions for the occurance of life upon our present konledge
 which is admittedly limited.
A few words should be said about the the respective hydrides
of compounds of silicon. They both form a homologous series of
compounds with carbon to carbon and silicon to silicon links
respectively such as CH4, C2H6, C3H7, etc and SiH4, Si2H6, Si2H4
 etc. Methane and silicomethane are thus simillar in structure
less gas which is stable in air unless ignited. Silicomethane
however is spontaneously inflamable.
Optical activity occurs throughout life processes and some
compouns of silicon are known which possess this property. 
For example we might mention ethyl, propyl, benzyl silicane.
This is only a simple compound consisting mainly of carbon and 
hydrogen and far removed from the complexities necessary to
sustain life as we know it.
To summarize, a life form based on silicon metabolism which
would remotely resemble the life on our planet cannot exist under
such enviromental conditions as are found on earth. It might
exist in an entirely alien set of circumstances which are at
present, bayond our conception. Astronauts of the future may
add substantially to our knowledge.
                       Francis R. Fears 
                      London, England.
Associate Member
Chicago Rocket Society

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6. THE JOURNAL OF SPACE FLIGHT As far as the life process is concerned the analogy ends here however as it is difficutl to envision a metabolism whereby SiO2 could be assimilated. Many other compoundsof carbon and silicon are known and they differ greatly in character, -- there are the respective haloggen compounds as an outstanding example. Comparing carbon tetrachloride with silicon tetrachloride, we find that the former is a colorless liquid heavier than water which is rather unreactive. Silicon tetrachloride however while a colorless liquid reacts violently with water according to the equation SiCl4 + 3 H2O = H2SiO3 + 4 HCL This illustrates well the differences between carbonand silicon compounds which have a vital bearing on the possibility of silicon life forms existing. Life as we know it depends on water for its existance and since a large area of our planet is so covered, other suns may be suitabe in composition and atmosphere to supp- ort life of some unknown form. In fact the feasibility of life senses cannot be ruled out. For the present we are basing the conditions for the occurance of life upon our present konledge which is admittedly limited. A few words should be said about the the respective hydrides of compounds of silicon. They both form a homologous series of compounds with carbon to carbon and silicon to silicon links respectively such as CH4, C2H6, C3H7, etc and SiH4, Si2H6, Si2H4 etc. Methane and silicomethane are thus simillar in structure less gas which is stable in air unless ignited. Silicomethane however is spontaneously inflamable. Optical activity occurs throughout life processes and some compouns of silicon are known which possess this property. For example we might mention ethyl, propyl, benzyl silicane. This is only a simple compound consisting mainly of carbon and hydrogen and far removed from the complexities necessary to sustain life as we know it. To summarize, a life form based on silicon metabolism which would remotely resemble the life on our planet cannot exist under such enviromental conditions as are found on earth. It might exist in an entirely alien set of circumstances which are at present, bayond our conception. Astronauts of the future may add substantially to our knowledge. Francis R. Fears London, England. Associate Member Chicago Rocket Society