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Even today, 14 billion years after the Big Bang, the most common element is still hydrogen.
Shortly after the big bang, the abundance of elements heavier than helium would have been "very small, almost non-existent".
Hydrogen, the simplest element, has one proton. Helium, the next most common, has TWO protons. The only other element that would have existed after the big bang but before the formation of stars might have been lithium, with an atomic number (number of protons) of 3.
What else can I help you with?
Why is the presence of elements heavier than helium in stars very important?
The presence of elements heavier than helium in stars is important because they provide crucial information about the star's age, composition, and evolutionary history. These heavier elements, also known as metals, are created through nuclear fusion processes in the cores of stars and are dispersed into space when the star dies. By studying the abundance of these elements in a star, scientists can gain insights into its formation and evolution.
What is produced within a star's core?
New elements - helium always, heavier elements often (up to iron) and heavier than that if the star explodes.
What is the sun formed from?
hydrogen, helium, and a small amount (less than 2%) of heavier elements
What elements are heavier than hydrogen?
All of them. There are no elements lighter than hydrogen. It has only two atomic particles, and you cannot have an element with less.
In the core of extremely hot red Giants nuclear reactions convert helium to?
Helium will be converted to metals, which is the name astronomers give to elements heavier than helium.
Are you something of starlight?
Not starlight, but the material we are made of was made in stars. All elements heavier than helium, except for a small amount of lithium, are made in stars. All elements heavier than iron come from supernovae.
What are the two main elements of the sun?
Hydrogen and Helium. Also comprised of a core of much heavier elements, all the elements in the universe heavier than hydrogen probably came from supernovae.
What elements are formed in cool stars?
In cool stars, elements such as hydrogen and helium are primarily produced through nuclear fusion in their cores. Elements heavier than helium (e.g., carbon, oxygen, and iron) are formed through nucleosynthesis processes during the later stages of a star's lifecycle, such as in red giant stars or during supernova events.
What gases are heavier than helium?
Helium exists as a monatomic gas, with atomic mass of 4.0. Thus any gas with a molecular mass higher than 4.0 would be heavier than helium. Hydrogen is the only gas that is lighter than helium; all others are heavier than helium.
Which is heavier hydrogen or helium?
Helium is heavier than hydrogen. Hydrogen is the lightest and simplest element in the periodic table, while helium is the second lightest element.
Are all-stars made of similar elements?
Younger stars often are made up mainly of hydrogen, perhaps with some helium. Less massive stars will only fues hydrogen into helium, so eventually they will end up having a lot of helium. More massive stars however will eventually start fusing helium to metals, i.e., heavier elements. In any case, the "metallicity" (percentage of elements heavier than helium) and the percentages of different elements should vary somewhat between different stars.Younger stars often are made up mainly of hydrogen, perhaps with some helium. Less massive stars will only fues hydrogen into helium, so eventually they will end up having a lot of helium. More massive stars however will eventually start fusing helium to metals, i.e., heavier elements. In any case, the "metallicity" (percentage of elements heavier than helium) and the percentages of different elements should vary somewhat between different stars.Younger stars often are made up mainly of hydrogen, perhaps with some helium. Less massive stars will only fues hydrogen into helium, so eventually they will end up having a lot of helium. More massive stars however will eventually start fusing helium to metals, i.e., heavier elements. In any case, the "metallicity" (percentage of elements heavier than helium) and the percentages of different elements should vary somewhat between different stars.Younger stars often are made up mainly of hydrogen, perhaps with some helium. Less massive stars will only fues hydrogen into helium, so eventually they will end up having a lot of helium. More massive stars however will eventually start fusing helium to metals, i.e., heavier elements. In any case, the "metallicity" (percentage of elements heavier than helium) and the percentages of different elements should vary somewhat between different stars.
Where did most of the elements heavier than Hydrogen and Helium form in the Universe?
Elements heavier than hydrogen and helium primarily formed in the cores of stars through nuclear fusion processes. Elements up to iron are formed in the cores of stars, while elements heavier than iron are typically produced in supernova explosions or neutron star mergers. These heavy elements are dispersed into space during these catastrophic events, enriching the interstellar medium from which new stars and planets can form.
