Chemistry of a Primordial Ocean on Europa

Introduction: Jupiter’s moon Europa is a differentiated body that consists of a Fe-rich core, a silicate mantle, and a water shell, which could contain an ocean [1]. The presence of sulfate-bearing compounds on the moon’s icy surface has been interpreted in terms of frozen oceanic water [2]. However, evaluations of oceanic chemistry from surface observations are limited because of radiolysis [3] and the implantation of chemical species from Io and interplanetary sources. Although the oceanic composition remains unknown, attempts have been made to consider the origin and evolution of oceanic chemistry [4-7]. In the framework of this strategy, we develop physical-chemistry models for fluids that could have formed a primordial ocean.