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Astrochemistry 天体化学 The great test tube in the sky 空中的大试管 Space is one big chemistry set 宇宙是一个很大的化学装置 MOST people think of the empty space between the stars as being, well, empty. 大多数人们认为星星之间就是空无一物，但事实并非如此。 But it is not. It is actually filled with gas. 实际上有气体弥散其中。 Admittedly, at an average density of 100-1,000 molecules per cubic centimetre, it is apretty thin gas. 诚然，分子平均密度102-103/cm3的气体非常稀薄。 But space is big, so altogether there is quite a lot of it. 不过由于空间很广阔，气体分子总体数量是可观的。 Most of it, about 92%, is hydrogen. 大部分的气体是氢，另外8%是惰性气体氦。 A further 8% is helium, which is chemically inert. 还有一小部分由氧、碳、氮等其他元素构成的分子。 But a tiny fractionless than one-tenth of a percentconsists of molecules with otherelements, such as oxygen, carbon and nitrogen, in them. Though these other elements are amere soupon of the interstellar soup, they do give it real flavour. | 
