What Is the Sun Made Of?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 25, 2020

In elemental terms, the sun is made up of 74 percent hydrogen, 24 percent helium and 1 percent oxygen. The last 1 percent comprises of everything else, which includes carbon, nitrogen, silicon, magnesium, neon, iron and sulfur.

Although the sun is indeed a big ball of hot hydrogen and helium gases, its layers should also be given due attention. Going toward the center of the sun, temperatures and pressures increase. With these conditions, the fusion of hydrogen atoms to form helium occurs, the process of which produces energy, which reaches the people on Earth in the form of heat and light.