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Lesson3 Handout

Physical Science

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Marc Russel Padilla
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20 views

Lesson3 Handout

Physical Science

Uploaded by

Marc Russel Padilla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Formation of the Heavier and Heaviest Elements

(derived from Science Learning, http://sciencelearn.org.nz)

Our world is made of elements and combinations of elements called compounds. An element is a pure
substance made of atoms that are all of the same type. At present, 118 elements are known, and only about 90 of
these occur naturally.

Elements and the ‘Big Bang’ theory


We already know, through our previous lesson, that during the formation of the universe some 14 billion
years ago in the so-called ‘Big Bang’, only the lightest elements were formed – hydrogen and helium along with
trace amounts of lithium and beryllium. As the cloud of cosmic dust and gases from the Big Bang cooled, stars
formed, and these then grouped together to form galaxies.
The other 86 elements found in nature were created in nuclear reactions in these stars and in huge stellar
explosions known as supernovae.

Elements and our Sun


For most of their lives, stars fuse elemental hydrogen into helium in their cores. Two atoms of hydrogen
are combined in a series of steps to create helium-4. These reactions called nuclear fusion reactions account for
85% of the Sun’s energy. The remaining 15% comes from reactions that produce the elements beryllium and
lithium.
The energy from these nuclear reactions is emitted in various forms of radiation such as ultraviolet light,
X-rays, visible light, infrared rays, microwaves and radio waves. In addition, energized particles such as neutrinos
and protons are released, and it is these that make up the solar wind.
Earth is in the path of this energy stream, which warms the planet, drives weather and provides energy
for life. The Earth’s atmosphere is able to screen out most of the harmful radiation, and the Earth’s magnetic field
can deflect the harmful effects of the solar wind.

Dying stars
The eventual end result of a star's life is determined by the mass of the star. The larger the mass of the
star, the more luminous they are. The more luminous they are, the more reactions are taking place in their cores.
And the more reactions are taking place in its core, the faster it consumes its fuel, which is Hydrogen.
When a star’s core runs out of hydrogen, the star begins to die out. The dying star expands into a red
giant, and this now begins to manufacture carbon and nitrogen atoms through a series of nuclear reactions using
helium, beryllium and lithium.
More massive stars turn into Supergiants and are capable of taking the nuclear reactions further to
produce elements that range from oxygen through to iron.
Eventually, stars will run out of fuel elements and explode. During a supernova, a star releases very large
amounts of energy as well as neutrons, which allows elements heavier than iron, such as uranium and gold, to be
produced. In a supernova explosion, all of these elements are expelled out into space.

What is the Big Bang theory?


Our world is literally made up of elements formed deep within the cores of stars now long dead. As
Britain’s Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees said, “We are literally the ashes of long dead stars.” When you buy a
party balloon that floats in air, it is filled with helium gas – most of which was created when the universe was only
3 minutes old! Examples of element-making (nucleogenesis) in helium burning reactions:
• 3 helium atoms fusing to give a carbon atom: 3 @ 4He → 12C
• carbon atom + helium atom fusing to give an oxygen atom: 12C + 4He → 16O
• oxygen atom + helium atom fusing to give a neon atom: 16O + 4He → 20Ne
• neon atom + helium atom fusing to give a magnesium atom: 20Ne + 4He → 24Mg

Prepared by:
Janine Hyacinth M. Dejos
Physical Science Teacher
Bantayan National High School

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