What chemical state does hydrogen adopt within the coldest and densest molecular clouds?
Answer
Molecular hydrogen (H2)
Molecular clouds represent the most extreme environments within the Interstellar Medium, characterized by exceptionally low temperatures, typically around 10 to 20 Kelvin, and high densities. Under these cold and dense conditions, hydrogen atoms possess insufficient thermal energy to remain independent and readily form covalent bonds with neighboring hydrogen atoms. This bonding results in the formation of molecular hydrogen ($ ext{H}_2$), which is the dominant form of hydrogen in these star-forming nurseries, distinguishing them from warmer, more diffuse phases of the ISM.
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