Published in PASP 102, 1359, 1990

Abstract. We study the gas abundance in Seyfert 2 and LINER nuclei using optical emission-Line data for a sample of 177 galaxies obtained from the literature. On the basis of photoionization model results it is shown that the range presented by the emission-line ratios [S II] / Hα and [N II] / Hα, can only be reproduced by a range in sulfur and nitrogen abundances from half-solar to five times solar. The abundances of these two elements seem to be correlated. It is also shown that, if the apertures are small enough, the observed [S II] / Hα values indicate overabundance of sulfur for most Seyfert 2 and LINER nuclei. A similar result has been previously found for nitrogen.

Key words: active nuclei-abundances

Table of Contents

• INTRODUCTION
• THE SAMPLE
• THE MODELS
• MODELS COMPARED TO OBSERVATIONS
• DISCUSSION
• CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES