What complex materials are cited as the composition of microscopic interstellar dust grains?

Answer

Silicates, carbon compounds, and frozen ices that are molecular remnants.

Interstellar dust, though comprising only a fraction of the total nebular mass, is chemically intricate. These microscopic grains are not simple materials but rather molecular remnants derived from the lifecycle of previous stellar generations. The composition includes refractory materials such as silicates (rock-forming minerals) alongside various carbon-based compounds. Furthermore, these particles often incorporate significant amounts of frozen ices, which are composed of volatile molecules accumulated in the cold environment. These dust grains are incredibly small, measuring only fractions of a micron, yet their collective presence dictates much of the observed optical characteristics of the nebula.

What complex materials are cited as the composition of microscopic interstellar dust grains?

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