HEAT CAPACITY AND THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTIONS OF EPSOMITE MgSO4 · 7 H2O AT 0-303 K

Abstract

Geological–geophysical data obtained by the Galileo spacecraft during its traveling around Jupiter’s satellites suggest the presence of a water layer (in terrestrial terms, marine or oceanic water) from tens (Europe) to a few hundred (Ganymede and Callisto) kilometers thick beneath an outer solid ice shell. The oceans of Europa, Ganymede, and Callsito are supposedly high-pressure electrolytic solutions. The presence of water supports the hypotheses of the existence of primitive extraterrestrial life forms in the surface ocean. The outer shells of Jupiter’s icy satellites consist mainly of H2O ice contaminated with dark non-ice component (carbonaceous chondrite-type matter). The data obtained by the Galileo probe point out the presence of mixtures of salt crystal hydrates (MgSO4 · nH2O, Na2SO4 · nH2O, and others) on the ice surface of the satellites.