Stellar chemistry

Stellar chemistry is the study of the chemical composition of stars and the physical and chemical processes that govern how elements are formed, transported, and observed in stellar environments. It is a subfield of astrophysics and is closely connected to astrochemistry, nuclear astrophysics, and galactic chemical evolution. Stellar chemistry encompasses both the internal nucleosynthesis reactions that create new elements and the observable atmospheric signatures—such as spectral lines and abundance patterns—that reveal a star’s origin, age, and evolutionary state.

Understanding stellar chemical composition is essential for reconstructing the chemical evolution of galaxies, determining stellar ages, identifying distinct stellar populations, and constraining the conditions under which planetary systems form. Chemical abundances also provide key diagnostics for processes such as stellar convection, diffusion, mass loss, and supernova enrichment, linking the life cycles of stars to the broader evolution of the Universe.

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