Which statement is correct about the sun’s composition?

Which statement is correct about the sun’s composition?

• A. It is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium
• B. It is composed mostly of nitrogen and oxygen
• C. It is composed mostly of carbon dioxide
• D. It is composed mostly of water vapor

Answer: (A)

The Sun is a giant ball of hot plasma, and its composition is dominated by the lightest elements. Hydrogen makes up the largest share of its mass, with helium as the next most abundant element. In fact, about three-quarters of the Sun’s mass is hydrogen and roughly a quarter is helium, with only a small amount of heavier elements present. The extreme temperatures there keep atoms ionized and prevent molecules from forming, so substances like carbon dioxide or water vapor aren’t major components. Nitrogen and oxygen are common in planetary atmospheres, but they are only trace elements in the Sun. So, a statement that the Sun is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium best describes its composition.

The Sun is a giant ball of hot plasma, and its composition is dominated by the lightest elements. Hydrogen makes up the largest share of its mass, with helium as the next most abundant element. In fact, about three-quarters of the Sun’s mass is hydrogen and roughly a quarter is helium, with only a small amount of heavier elements present. The extreme temperatures there keep atoms ionized and prevent molecules from forming, so substances like carbon dioxide or water vapor aren’t major components. Nitrogen and oxygen are common in planetary atmospheres, but they are only trace elements in the Sun. So, a statement that the Sun is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium best describes its composition.