What can be inferred about the mass of diffuse molecular clouds?

Diffuse molecular clouds, often referred to as giant molecular clouds, are significant structures within the interstellar medium, primarily composed of gas and dust where stars are often born. These clouds can have a substantial mass, typically ranging from several times the mass of the Sun to several hundred solar masses.

The correct answer reflects that these clouds can indeed have masses within the range of 3 to 100 solar masses, capturing the lower bounds often categorized in studies of star formation. This mass range is significant because the density and the conditions within these clouds are conducive to the formation of new stars. Moreover, while some individual clouds can exceed 100 solar masses, the immediate range that is frequently cited encompasses those values, making this choice a representative summary of the mass distribution of diffuse molecular clouds.

Understanding the mass of these clouds aids astrophysicists in modeling star formation processes and the dynamics of the interstellar medium, emphasizing how this mass range relates directly to the processes that lead to star birth and other galactic phenomena.