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swfo t1_j65p66f wrote

Reply to comment by Loose-Addition-5730 in Why are "metals" more effective at cooling molecular clouds than hydrogen and helium? by Thomas_Bonk

That is the definition of metals Astronomers use. I just learned it from Dr. Becky. It was shocking at first but makes sense from an astronomical point of view. Still, I will never be comfortable calling carbon or neon a metal.

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Loose-Addition-5730 t1_j67m8ta wrote

Coming from a chemistry background this will take some getting used to.

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TFK_001 t1_j6azo2j wrote

Our chemistry teacher would always bring up this definition in the first few weeks of class but it makes sense from an astronomical standpoint

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