Physical Science

Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Exploring the Formation of
Elements During Stellar
Formation and Evolution
Physical Science
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Exploring the Formation of Elements During Stellar Formation
and Evolution
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education Secretary:

Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Authors: Beverly Joy O. Lorenzo
Editors: Joey H. Villanueva, Arlene C. Malaybalay
Reviewers: Tommy R. Rico, Emiterio D. Macarubbo, Maricris N. Surigao
Illustrator: Daniel A. Lorenzo
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Jennifer Vivas, CLMD Chief
Dennis M. Mendoza, Regional EPS in-charge of LRMS
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Tommy R. Rico, Division in-charge of LRMS and
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 Physical Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Exploring the Formation of
Elements During Stellar
Formation and Evolution
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Physical Science Grade 11/12 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module with
the topic on formation of heavier elements during star formation and evolution, and
synthesis of new elements in the laboratory!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by educators to assist
you, the teacher or facilitator, in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12
Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent learning
activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help learners acquire the
needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the
module:

Notes to the Teacher

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You also
need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their own
learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the
tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

ii
Welcome to the Physical Science 11/12 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module with the
topic on formation of heavier elements during star formation and evolution, and synthesis of
new elements in the laboratory!

Our hands are one of the most symbolized parts of the human body. It is often used to depict
skill, action, and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and accomplish. Hence,
the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner is capable and empowered to
successfully achieve the relevant competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your
academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided
and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be able to process the
contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What’s In

What I Need to What’s New

Know

What is It

What I Know What’s More

What I Have Learned

This will give you an idea of the skills or competencies you are
expected to learn in the module.

iii
This part includes an check the answers to the exercises using the Answer Key at the
activity that aims to end of the module.
check what you already
This includes questions or blank
know about the lessons.
sentences/paragraphs to be filled in to
If you get all the answers
process what you learned from the lesson.
correct (100%), you may
decide to skip this What I Can Do
module.
This is a brief drill or
review to help you link
the current lesson with Assessment
the previous one.
In this portion, the new
lesson will be introduced Additional Activities
to you in various ways
such as a story, a song, a
poem, a problem opener,
an activity, or a situation.
This section provides a Answer Key
brief discussion of the
lesson. This aims to help This section provides an activity that will help you transfer
you discover and your new knowledge or skill I into real-life situations or
understand new concepts concerns.
and skills.
This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of mastery in
This comprises activities achieving the learning competency.
for independent practice
In this portion, another activity will be given to you to enrich
to solidify your
your knowledge or skill of the lesson learned. This also tends
understanding and skills
retention of learned concepts.
of the topic. You may
This contains answers to all activities in the module.

iv
At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in developing

this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the module.
Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities included
in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to
consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain a
deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

v
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is to help you master the
formation of heavier elements during star formation and evolution, and synthesis of new
elements in the laboratory. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students.
The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.

The module consists of one lesson only:

• Lesson 1 – Formation of Elements During Stellar Formation and Evolution

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Describe the formation of heavier elements during the formation and evolution of
stars;
2. Cite astronomical evidence which justifies the formation of elements during stellar
formation and evolution;
3. Appreciate the importance of the discovery of atomic number which led to the
synthesis of new elements in the laboratory.

What I Know

1
DIRECTIONS: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following asserts that stars are formed when a dense region of molecular
cloud collapse?
a. Big Bang Theory c. Creation Theory
b. Evolution Theory d. Star Formation Theory
2. Which refers to the fragments of clouds that contract and form a stellar core?
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
3. What will be formed when a protostar attains its gravitational equilibrium?
a. Main sequence star c. Supernova
b. Red Giant d. White dwarf
4. Where do hydrogen and helium fuse in a main sequence star?
a. Core b. Crust c. Inner core d. Mantle
5. Helium will be converted into what after its fusion with two more helium atoms?
a. Argon b. Carbon c. Chlorine d. Oxygen
6. When a star has used up all the hydrogen in its core, hydrogen will be converted into
helium in the layer immediately surrounding the core. What stage of star formation is
this?
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
7. During red giant formation, what element will be produced by the fusion of oxygen with
helium?
a. Helium b. Hydrogen c. Neon d. Silicon
8. During red giant formation, what element will be produced by the fusion of neon with
helium?
a. Carbon b. Magnesium c. Manganese d. Silicon
9. During red giant formation, what element will be produced by the fusion of silicon with
another silicon atom?
a. Argon b. Boron c. Iron d. Gold
10. At what stage does the outer covering of a star blow due to insufficient energy?
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
11. What will happen to a star if its core can no longer produce the needed energy?
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
12. Who predicted new elements based on the atomic number of known elements?
a. Ernest Rutherford b. John Newlands c. Henry Mosely d. Plato
13. What type of nuclear reaction emits a particle with two protons and two neutrons?
a. Alpha emission b. Beta emission c. Gamma emission d. Fusion
14. What type of nuclear reaction emits electrons?
a. Alpha emission b. Beta emission c. Gamma emission d. Fission
15. What type of nuclear reaction emits gamma rays?
a. Alpha emission b. Beta emission c. Gamma emission d. Fusion

2
 Lesson
Formation and Synthesis of
1 Heavier Elements
“In one of the most inhospitable places in our galaxy, stars have prevailed. It appears that star formation is
much more tenacious than we previously believed.”

-Sergei Nayakshin

What’s In

DIRECTIONS: Demonstrate understanding of primordial elements formation by completing

the table below.

Elements Reactants 1 Reactants 2 Nuclear Reaction

Deuterium
Tritium
Helium (Stable)
Lithium

What’s New

Stellar Word Puzzle

Directions: Encircle and write down the words which are related to star and element
formation. In addition, expand your vocabulary by finding the meaning of the encircled
words and relate them to your prior knowledge.

N U C L E O S Y N T H E S I S G B E T A
S D A J L H Y D R O G E N A L P H A I I
T U T H E L I U M S U N S T A B L E A B
A S O R M N U C L E U S N U C L E I D T
R T M D E F U S I O N R A D I A T I O N
C O C H N F I S S I O N G A M M A S G N
F I V R T P R O T O S T A R M H D R S V

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 H F L F S U P E R N O V A G J D H T A C

What is It

Evolution of Stars and the Formation of Heavier Elements

Star formation theory states that stars
are formed when a dense region of molecular
cloud collapses. During this process,
fragments of clouds contract and form a
stellar core known as protostar. The
contraction and gravitational force of the
protostar result in an increase in
temperature which triggers nuclear reaction
within the star upon reaching 10 million
Kelvin. Throughout the reaction, neutrinos
and positrons are released, slowing down the
reaction. Once the contraction stops and the
protostar attains its gravitational
equilibrium, a main sequence star will be
formed.

In the core of a main sequence star, hydrogen fuses with helium through proton-
proton chain. In addition, the gravitational force of a main sequence star forces hydrogen and
helium to fuse resulting to burning of the 2 primordial elements. Furthermore, at this stage,
helium is converted to carbon at the core while hydrogen is converted into helium
surrounding the core which denotes the formation of red giant. On the other hand, since
massive stars possess enough energy, mass, temperature, and pressure, the star will undergo
a series of stages where heavier elements are fused around the shell of the core whereas
carbon will be formed through helium fusion, neon will be formed through oxygen fusion,
magnesium from neon fusion, silicon from magnesium fusion, and iron from silicon fusion
which denotes the formation of red giant.
Considering that the majority of helium surrounding the core has been converted into
carbon, the rate of reaction will decrease causing the gravitational force to act squeezing the
entire star. With low mass stars, considering that the amount of energy is not enough to
sustain the reaction, and that the star’s fuel has been exhausted, the outer material covering
the star will eventually be blown-off leaving an inert carbon core resulting to the formation
of white dwarf.

The first 3 minutes of Big Bang focused primarily on the expansion and cooling of
universe so as to the synthesis of the first three elements. On the other hand, the second
cosmological event is Stellar nucleosynthesis, a process in which heavier elements such as
Beryllium (4Be) and Iron (26Fe) were formed by combining protons and neutrons from the
nuclei of a lighter elements.

4
 Moreover, under the process of stellar nucleosynthesis, heavier elements are created
in different types of stars as they die or explode and the abundance of these elements change
as the stars evolve.

Stable Helium reacts with Carbon to produce oxygen and gamma rays under extreme
gravitational force and temperature. Oxygen as the product of the initial reaction then reacts
with Helium to form Neon and gamma rays (42He + 168O 2010Ne + 00γ). The third
reaction involves carbon reacting with another Carbon forming Magnesium and gamma
ray
(126C + 126C 2412Mg + 00γ). On the other hand, Oxygen to Oxygen fusion will create Silicon,
alpha particle (Helium) and gamma rays as product.
(168O + 168O 2814Si + 42He + 00γ). The process will continue to form heavier elements from
lighter ones, but not heavier than Iron with atomic mass of 26. Lastly, supernova happens
when the core can no longer produce the needed energy to resist gravitational force, leading
to its explosion and release of large amounts of energy.

Pieces of Evidence
One remarkable evidence to support stellar nucleosynthesis and star formation theory
is the discovery of interstellar dusts and gasses which justifies the stages of stellar formation
which are happening across the universe. In addition, infrared radiation being emitted in the
process of stellar formation serves as a strong indication that stellar nucleosynthesis is a
concurrent with stellar formation and evolution.

Atomic Number and Synthesis of New Elements

Throughout history, scientist have been working on a periodic organization of
elements as to their properties and to predict new elements. This is because understanding
the properties of these known elements will provide them a pattern which would help them
discover new elements. Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Mosely an English chemist arranged the
elements in the periodic table by using atomic number as basis. This allowed him to identify
and predict any element considering the number of protons which is equal to the atomic
number. In addition, he emphasized that adding proton to an element increases its atomic
number and that new element will be formed.

Nuclear Reaction
Alpha Emission: a particle with two protons and two neutrons is emitted resulting to a lighter
new element. 23892 U 234 4
90 Th + 2 He

Beta Emission: a neutron becomes a proton, and an electron will be ejected resulting to a new
element with the same mass. 13153 I 131 0
54 Xe + -1 e

Gamma Emission: gamma ray will be emitted when a radioactive nuclide leaves a nucleus in
an excited state. 13756 Ba 137
56 Ba + γ-photon.

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 What’s More

Activity 1 Stellar Products

Directions: Based on your understanding about the formation of heavier elements during
stellar nucleosynthesis, predict the reactants, and products which will be formed by the
following reactions inside the table.

Reactant Reactant 2 Atomic # of Mass # of Chemical Equation Product

1 Reactant 2 Reactant 2
Helium Oxygen
Helium Neon
Helium Magnesium
Helium Silicon
Helium Sulfur
Helium Argon
Helium Calcium
Helium Titanium

Activity 2 Birth from the Stars

Directions: Identify the elements formed during the following stages of star formation and
evolution.
Stages What were the elements How were these elements
formed? formed?
Protostar
Main Sequence Star
Red Giant Star
White Dwarf
Supernova

Activity 3 It’s Okay Decay

Directions: Determine the type of chemical reaction in each item (a-emission, b- emission, y-
emission, fission, fusion). In addition, write the product of the following chemical reactions
on the space provided for product side.

1. 1532P  1632S +
2. 92238U  90234 Th +

3. 90234Th  90234 Th +

4. 53131I  54131 Xe +
5. 88226Ra  86222 Rn +

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 What I Have Learned
1. Gamma Ray is electromagnetic radiation with a relatively short wavelength emitted
during gamma decay and other reactions.
2. Radio Active Nuclei refers to an unstable nucleus that spontaneously emits particles and
energy throughout the radioactive decay process.
3. Supernova is a star that blows apart and releases a large amount of energy.
4. Star formation theory proposes that stars were formed due to the collapsing of a dense
region of molecular clouds.
5. Stellar nucleosynthesis refers to the process by which elements are formed within the
star during star formation and evolution.

What I
Can Do

Directions: Based on your understanding of this module, analyze and answer the following
questions regarding element formation during star formation and synthesis of new elements
in the laboratory.

1. Describe the formation of primordial elements during the early stage of stellar formation
and evolution.
2. Compare and contrast the elements formed by a small star and a massive star.
3. Describe the role being played by gravitational force in the creation of new elements.
4. Discuss the pieces of evidence used by scientists to explain the formation of heavier
elements during stellar formation and evolution.
5. How did the discovery of atomic number revolutionize how we view the periodic table of
elements as a tool in predicting new elements?
6. Describe how elements in the laboratory are synthesized.
7. Discuss how the elements formed in the star reached distant places/galaxies?
8. How did the discovery of atomic number pave the way to the synthesis of new elements in
the laboratory?

Assessment

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Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. When helium atoms fuse, Helium will be converted to

.
a. Argon b. Carbon c. Chlorine d. Oxygen
2. will be formed when protostar attains its gravitational equilibrium.
a. Main sequence star c. Supernova
b. Red Giant d. White dwarf
3. Hydrogen and helium fuse at the of a main sequence star.
a. Core b. Crust c. Inner core d. Mantle
4. will be produced by silicon fusion during red giant formation.
a. Argon b. Boron c. Iron d. Gold
5. predicted new elements based on the atomic number of known elements.
a. Ernest Rutherford b. John Newlands c. Henry Mosely d. Plato
6. will be produced by oxygen fusion during red giant formation.
a. Helium b. Hydrogen c. Neon d. Silicon
7. During the formation of a _____ hydrogen will be converted into helium
in the layer surrounding the core.
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
8. states that stars are formed when a dense region of molecular cloud
collapse.
b. Big Bang Theory c. Creation Theory
c. Evolution Theory d. Star formation Theory
9. Two protons and two neutrons will be emitted during
decay.
a. Alpha b. Beta c. Gamma d. Fusion
10. will happen to a star if its core can no longer produce the needed energy.
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
11. will be produced by neon fusion during red giant formation.
a. Carbon b. Magnesium c. Manganese d. Silicon
12. Gamma ray will be emitted during decay.
a. Alpha b. Beta c. Gamma d. Fusion
13. When the fragments of clouds contract, a stellar core known as is
formed.
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf
14. Electron will be emitted during decay.
a. Alpha b. Beta c. Gamma d. Fission
15. During stage the outer covering of star will blow due to insufficient
energy.
a. Protostar b. Red giant c. Supernova d. White dwarf

8
 Additional
Activities

Directions: Write the balanced nuclear reaction of the following elements under
alpha, beta and gamma decay.

References
Bayo-ang, Roly., Coronacion, Maria Lourdes., Jorda, Annamae., & Restubog, Anna
Jamille. Physical Science for Senior High School (1st edition). Quezon City: Educational
Resources Corporation, 2017.
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