page_title: List of interstellar and circumstellar molecules
section_title: Molecules
hierarchical_section_title: List of interstellar and circumstellar molecules / Molecules
context_page_description: This is a list of molecules that have been detected in the interstellar medium and circumstellar envelopes, grouped by the number of component atoms. The chemical formula is listed for each detected compound, along with any ionized form that has also been observed.
context_section_description: The following tables list molecules that have been detected in the interstellar medium or circumstellar matter, grouped by the number of component atoms. Neutral molecules and their molecular ions are listed in separate columns; if there is no entry in the molecule column, only the ionized form has been detected. Designations (names of molecules) are those used in the scientific literature describing the detection; if none was given that field is left empty. Mass is listed in atomic mass units. Deuterated molecules, which contain at least one deuterium (²H) atom, have slightly different masses and are listed in a separate table. The total number of unique species, including distinct ionization states, is indicated in each section header.
  Most of the molecules detected so far are organic. The only detected inorganic molecule with five or more atoms is SiH₄. Molecules larger than that all have at least one carbon atom, with no N−N or O−O bonds.
caption: Carbon monoxide is frequently used to trace the distribution of mass in molecular clouds.[12]
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