Composition of the Sun

Element
Abundance
(percentage of total
number of atoms)
Abundance
(percentage of total
mass)
Hydrogen
91.2
71.0
Helium
8.7
27.1
Oxygen
0.078
0.97
Carbon
0.043
0.40
Nitrogen
0.0088
0.096
Silicon
0.0045
0.099
Magnesium
0.0038
0.076
Neon
0.0035
0.058
Iron
0.0030
0.14
Sulfur
0.0015
0.040
The SunComposition of Earth's crust

The table of elements at left was constructed from analysis of the solar spectrum, which comes from the photosphere and chromosphere of the Sun. But it is thought to be representative of the entire Sun with the exception of the solar core because of the degree of mixing which takes place between the layers of the Sun's interior.

About 67 elements have been detected in the solar spectrum.

Index

Tables

Reference
Chaisson & McMillan
Ch 16

Fraknoi, Morrison & Wolff
Table 14.2
 
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