What is the chemical consequence when ejected gas and dust from an aging star mix back into the general interstellar medium?
Answer
It increases the metallicity for the next generation of stars
The cosmic cycle of material recycling is fundamental to galactic evolution. When gas and dust ejected from an aging star—such as within a planetary nebula—cool and mix with the existing interstellar medium, they contribute their newly forged or processed elements to that environment. This process effectively increases the overall metallicity, which is the abundance measurement for elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, in the surrounding clouds. This enriched material then serves as the raw ingredients for the subsequent generation of stars, ensuring future stellar infants and their potential protoplanetary disks incorporate complexity like carbon and oxygen.
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