What percentage of a molecular cloud's total mass is accounted for by molecular hydrogen ($ ext{H}_2$)?
Answer
About 74%
When analyzing the composition of a molecular cloud by mass, the distribution is highly skewed toward the simplest element. Molecular hydrogen ($ ext{H}_2$), which is the backbone and primary constituent of these star-forming regions, accounts for roughly 74% of the total mass budget. Following this, helium makes up nearly 24% of the mass. The remaining few percent is comprised of all other elements combined, which includes trace molecules like carbon monoxide and the astrophysically important component of solid interstellar dust grains. This mass distribution closely mirrors the overall elemental abundance observed throughout the universe.
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