What volatile substances, besides water ice, are primary constituents of Oort Cloud ices?
Answer
Frozen methane, ammonia, and carbon monoxide
The primary constituents of the Oort Cloud objects are volatile substances collectively referred to as 'ice' in astronomical contexts. While water ice is a major component, the material composition is also heavily weighted toward other frozen volatiles. These specifically include frozen methane, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. These substances remain stable because the objects are stored in the solar system's coldest regions, effectively preserving the chemical makeup present during the earliest stages of solar system formation, far from the heat and radiation pressure exerted by the Sun.
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