Question: What role do chemical processes play in the formation of stars and planetary systems?

Martin McCoustra answered on 3 Mar 2025:

There are a variety of chemical processes that make molecules in space. The most important thing is that those molecules help to form small stars like our Sun. The more complex molecules that are formed are delivered to planet surfaces by comets and meteorites and seed the planets with the potential for life as complex chemistry in the starting point for biology.