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  • Sun's Composition: Hydrogen, Helium & Trace Elements - A Detailed Breakdown
    The Sun is a giant ball of hot gas, primarily composed of:

    1. Hydrogen (H): This makes up about 70.6% of the Sun's mass. It is the primary fuel source for the Sun's nuclear fusion reactions.

    2. Helium (He): This makes up about 27.4% of the Sun's mass. It is a byproduct of nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms are fused together to form helium.

    3. Other Elements: The remaining 2% of the Sun's mass is made up of trace amounts of heavier elements like oxygen, carbon, neon, iron, and others.

    It's important to note that:

    * The Sun is not solid, but rather a plasma – a superheated state of matter where electrons are stripped from atoms, creating a mix of charged particles.

    * These proportions are by mass, not volume. By volume, hydrogen makes up an even larger percentage of the Sun.

    * The Sun's composition can vary slightly with depth, with the core having a higher concentration of heavier elements than the outer layers.

    These elements and their proportions are crucial for understanding the Sun's energy production, its structure, and its evolution over time.

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