In News:

Recent scientific research suggests that life could exist on rocky super-Earths with volcanic activity and minimal water, thanks to ionic liquids (ILs)—salts that remain liquid even in extreme conditions such as a vacuum.

About Ionic Liquids (ILs):

• ILs are salts that are liquid at room temperature, typically with melting points below 100°C.
• Unlike ordinary liquids composed of neutral molecules, ILs are made entirely of ions or short-lived ion pairs.
• Examples include tetrabutylammonium nitrite, 1-(Cyanomethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, and choline acetate.
• ILs are also called liquid electrolytes, ionic melts, ionic fluids, fused salts, liquid salts, or ionic glasses.

Properties and Significance:

• Non-volatile and non-flammable, making them safe under extreme conditions.
• Thermally and chemically stable, resisting decomposition up to 200–400°C depending on composition.
• Can be hydrophobic or hydrophilic, and act as good conductors with a broad electrochemical range.
• Highly tunable: Their physico-chemical properties can be modified by changing the size and type of ions, making them versatile in applications.

Applications in Science and Industry:

• Widely used in synthesis, catalysis, extraction, electrochemistry, analytics, and biotechnology.
• Serve as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional organic solvents and catalysts.
• Their stability under heat and vacuum conditions allows their use in high-temperature processes.

Role in Supporting Extraterrestrial Life:

• Laboratory experiments demonstrated that ILs can be created by mixing volcanic sulphuric acid with nitrogen-containing organic molecules found on planets.
• These liquids can dissolve biological molecules, offering a medium for biochemical reactions without the need for liquid water.
• This discovery expands the scope of habitable environments beyond Earth-like conditions, suggesting that life could potentially survive on arid, volcanic exoplanets.