Final answer:
The Sun is predominantly made of hydrogen (73%) and helium (25%), with other elements making up 2% of its mass. The high temperatures of the Sun cause these elements to exist as a hot ionized gas or plasma. This ionized state enables the nuclear fusion process, which produces the Sun's energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is the Sun made out of?
The Sun is a massive sphere of hot gas, primarily comprised of hydrogen and helium. About 73% of the Sun's mass is hydrogen, which serves as the Sun's primary fuel for its core nuclear fusion process, and approximately 25% is helium. The remaining 2% consists of all the other chemical elements such as carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. The Sun's outer layer differs significantly from Earth's crust composition. It is crucial to note that all elements in the Sun are gases due to the high temperatures, and many atoms are ionized forming a plasma - a state in which free electrons and positively charged ions exist instead of neutral atoms.
This setup facilitates the Sun's energy production, where around 600 million tons of hydrogen are fused into helium every second, releasing immense energy which reaches Earth and is vital for sustaining life through photosynthesis and driving the planet's climate and weather.