What form does Hydrogen primarily take in cold and dense molecular clouds within a nebula?
Answer
Molecular hydrogen (H2)
Molecular clouds, recognized as the coldest and densest types of nebulae, are specifically characterized by the presence of molecular hydrogen, denoted as H2. These H2 molecules are crucial because they serve as the primary fuel source necessary for the subsequent birth of new stars within the cloud. Although atomic hydrogen (H I) and ionized hydrogen (H+) exist in other regions, H2 dominates the gas composition in these particular cold, dense environments.
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