Electrolysis in space and fate of Phaethon

A new process of the energy accumulation in icy bodies (e.g., planetary satellites, cometary nuclei) is advanced which is applicable for space conditions: namely, the volumetric electrolysis of the ice containing foreign inclusions. The electrolysis takes place when the electric current, generated by virtue of the body's movement in the external magnetic field (planetary magnetospheres, the solar wind field, etc.) flows through the body.The cosmogonical concept which treats the Sun-Jupiter system as a limiting case of a close binary star, together with the known data on mass, composition and space distribution of asteroids, allows one to assume the initial existence between Mars and Jupiter of a Moon-like planet enriched with ices and allied by its parameters to the Galilean satellites (mainly Ganymede and Callisto). If this planet was affected by the ancient solar wind with during 10⁹ yr, it could have accumulated the energy sufficient for its explosion.The process considered seems able to explain, from a unified point of view, a large number of phenomena — such as the burst activity of comets, a considerable hydrogen excess in their tails, a noticeable long-period comet perihelia orientation toward the solar apex, the existence of asteroidal families and the separation of asteroids by their chemical composition into two main groups, the Tunguska event, etc.