Red supergiant star to individual objects, but it may become useful for analysis of galactic structure and discovery of otherwise obscured red supergiant stars. Surface abundances of red supergiants are dominated by hydrogen even though hydrogen at the core has been completely consumed. In the latest stages of mass loss before a star explodes, surface helium may become enriched to levels comparable with hydrogen. In theoretical extreme mass loss models, sufficient hydrogen may be lost that helium becomes the most abundant element at the surface. When pre-red supergiant stars leave the main sequence, oxygen is more abundant than carbon at the surface, and
Water gas of the carbon dioxide formed when carbon monoxide reacts with water. Water gas Water gas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen produced from synthesis gas. Synthesis gas is a useful product, but requires careful handling due to its flammability and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The water-gas shift reaction can be used to reduce the carbon monoxide while producing additional hydrogen, resulting in water gas. Synthesis gas is made by passing steam over a red-hot carbon fuel such as coke: The reaction is endothermic, so the fuel must be continually re-heated to keep the reaction going. In