What collective term do astronomers use for the heavier elements found in nebulae?
Answer
"Metals"
Astronomers refer to the fraction of heavier elements present in nebulae—those created later in the universe through nuclear fusion within stars and subsequent supernovae explosions—collectively as "metals." Although this group includes elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, it represents a scientifically significant but minor fraction, typically amounting to only about 1% to 2% of the nebula's total elemental mass. These heavier elements are crucial as they condense to form the dust grains.
Related Questions
What elements compose the overwhelming majority of any given nebula?What process involving hydrogen results in the characteristic ruddy glow of emission nebulae?What collective term do astronomers use for the heavier elements found in nebulae?What is the primary structural role of heavier dust grains and molecules in a nebula?Why do reflection nebulae primarily appear blue when scattering light from nearby stars?What are the primary components of dark nebulae that cause them to appear as silhouettes?What does the presence of heavier elements in a collapsing cloud reveal about its galactic neighborhood?Approximately what percentage of the elemental mass does hydrogen account for in a young, star-forming nebula?Which analytical process allows astronomers to measure the specific elements and their proportions in a nebula?How do elements typically manifest in the colder, denser regions of a nebula?