What particle number density range characterizes molecular clouds relative to surrounding space?

Answer

A few hundred or a few thousand particles per cubic centimeter

Although molecular clouds are considered the densest available sites for star formation within the interstellar medium, they are still extremely diffuse compared to conditions achievable in terrestrial laboratories. The actual number density of particles within these vast structures is quite low, typically quantified as being only a few hundred to a few thousand particles for every cubic centimeter of volume. This relative diffuseness means that for collapse to begin, a region must either accumulate enough mass to compensate for this moderate density, or a localized compression must significantly boost the density above this baseline figure to reach the necessary critical mass.

What particle number density range characterizes molecular clouds relative to surrounding space?

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What Initiates Molecular Cloud Collapse? - Physics Frontier - YouTube

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