What two elements make up the overwhelming majority of a star's bulk composition when it first condenses?
Answer
Hydrogen and Helium
When a star first condenses from molecular clouds, its bulk composition is dominated by the two lightest elements forged in the Big Bang: hydrogen (H) by number, followed by helium (He).
Frequently Asked Questions
What two elements make up the overwhelming majority of a star's bulk composition when it first condenses?In astrophysical terms for stellar composition, what elements are collectively referred to as 'metals' (Z)?What nuclear process creates carbon in the core of a low or intermediate mass star reaching red giant status?What is the final elemental product created in the core fusion sequence of a massive supergiant before collapse ensues?Why does nuclear fusion stop abruptly at iron ($ ext{Fe}$) in stellar cores?What process is responsible for synthesizing elements heavier than iron, such as gold and platinum, via slow neutron capture over thousands of years?What event is now theorized to be a major factory for creating vast amounts of the heaviest, neutron-rich elements?What structural feature in a Sun-like star prevents newly formed helium in the core from mixing with the outer hydrogen layers during the main sequence?How does a low-mass star, like the Sun, typically disperse its processed material into the interstellar medium?How does the main-sequence lifetime of a significantly more massive supergiant compare to that of our Sun?