<p>Helium is burnt in Sun's core, and it is heavier (specific weight) than hydrogen.
Hence most of the helium stays in Sun's core.
(<a href="http://www.uni.edu/morgans/astro/course/Notes/section2/new8.html" rel="nofollow">More details</a>)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-17T23:41:24.433Z
Helium is _not_ burnt in the Sun's core, or anywhere else in the Sun, and won't be [for another 7.5 billion years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formation_and_evolution_of_the_Solar_System#The_Sun_and_planetary_environments).
Vikki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-04T21:44:28.837Z
2014-05-04T21:44:28.837Z
Gerald
<p>The Sun currently shines because H is being burned to He, and it has been doing this for about 4.57 Ga. But when we analyze the Sun's atmosphere, we do not find unusually large amounts of He. Why not?</p>

<the-sun><stellar-atmospheres>
Why do we not find larger quantities of helium in the Sun's atmosphere?
user1555
# Why do we not find larger quantities of helium in the Sun's atmosphere?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-04)

The Sun currently shines because H is being burned to He, and it has been doing this for about 4.57 Ga. But when we analyze the Sun's atmosphere, we do not find unusually large amounts of He. Why not?

**Tags:** the-sun, stellar-atmospheres


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-05-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Helium is burnt in Sun's core, and it is heavier (specific weight) than hydrogen.
Hence most of the helium stays in Sun's core.
([More details](http://www.uni.edu/morgans/astro/course/Notes/section2/new8.html))

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Helium is _not_ burnt in the Sun's core, or anywhere else in the Sun, and won't be [for another 7.5 billion years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formation_and_evolution_of_the_Solar_System#The_Sun_and_planetary_environments).  

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