What was the material from which the solar system formed?
A) nebula made mostly of heavy elements but enriched in hydrogen and helium from supernova explosions
B) debris from the explosion of a massive star
C) nebula made entirely of hydrogen and helium gas
D) nebula made mostly of hydrogen and helium gas but enriched in heavier elements from planetary nebulae and supernova explosions

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The solar system formed from a nebula that was primarily composed of hydrogen and helium gas, the most abundant elements in the universe. This nebula was also enriched with heavier elements (such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, iron, etc.) that were produced in previous generations of stars and distributed into the interstellar medium through processes like supernova explosions and winds from aging stars. These heavier elements are crucial for the formation of rocky planets and life as we know it.

What Was the Material from Which the Solar System Formed