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How are most of the elements with nuclei heavier than those of hydrogen and helium formed?
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Well, Helium is an element, and "substance" can mean a combination of elements and compounds... which are formed according to their chemical properties.
Assuming you were asking about pure elements, rather than substances, all elements up to Iron-56 are formed by nuclear fusion, presumably inside of stars. This is due to to Iron-56 being the most stable nucleus in the Periodic Table. Hydrogen-1 forms Helium-4, Helium combines to form Beryllium-8, Carbon-12, and Oxygen-16. And so on.... up to Iron-56.
Fusion of heavier compounds will not result in excess energy (e.g. a star's heat and light) so those nuclear reactions will not sustain a star.
Therefore, all elements heavier then Iron-56 are formed by the extraordinary conditions of a super nova. Because earth has abundant elements heavier than Iron-56, it is thought that the matter in our Solar System has been through several solar cycles... In other words, "we are all made of stars".
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoWhen stars reach the end of their life-spans, they exhaust their hydrogen supplies and start to fuse helium. When that runs out, they march down the Periodic Table, fusing heavier and heavier elements. When they get to iron (Fe, #26,) the process usually stops, because iron has what's called high nuclear binding energy, which means it resists any further fusion. However, if the star is super-massive enough, the process continues, all the way down to really heavy elements like lead (Pb) and iridium (Ir) and others. At this point, the star is usually very close to blowing itself to pieces in what is known as a supernova. These heavy elements get scattered across the universe. That's where they come from!
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoMost were formed in stars; part of the heavier elements formed in stars were ejected into space in supernova explosions.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoElements up to iron are formed in the thermonuclear reaction in stars. Elements which are heavier still are formed in novae.
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Which of these elements does this star contain?
Of which elements? - Stars usually consist mainly of hydrogen, less helium, and small amounts of the so-called "metals" (which, in astronomy, means any heavier elements).Of which elements? - Stars usually consist mainly of hydrogen, less helium, and small amounts of the so-called "metals" (which, in astronomy, means any heavier elements).Of which elements? - Stars usually consist mainly of hydrogen, less helium, and small amounts of the so-called "metals" (which, in astronomy, means any heavier elements).Of which elements? - Stars usually consist mainly of hydrogen, less helium, and small amounts of the so-called "metals" (which, in astronomy, means any heavier elements).
Do all stars turn hydrogen in to helium?
No. Stars that have depleted the hydrogen in their cores may start fusing heavier elements.
The sun burns hydrogenate an helium to make what?
The sun fuses hydrogen to make helium. It will be several billion years before the sun fuses helium to make heavier elements.
How are the elements carbon nitrogen and oxygen produced in stars like the sun?
These fusion (carbon , nitrogen , and oxygen) reactions form nuclei of sightly heavier elements.
What is the composition of vega star?
Like other stars, Vega is primarily hydrogen and helium. In fact is particularly low in any elements heavier than helium.
Where did most of the elements heavier than Hydrogen and Helium form in the Universe?
Other elements were formed in stars by nucleosynthesis.
What is the sun formed from?
hydrogen, helium, and a small amount (less than 2%) of heavier elements
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 does nucleur fusion create inside stars?
First hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium, and then as the star ages heavier and heavier elements are formed.
Was carbon the first atom created after the big bang theory?
No, hydrogen was. other heavier elements, starting with helium, were formed by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei.
Is it true that Hydrogen and Helium were formed by nuclear reaction in the stars and other elements were formed after the Big Bang?
Close, but not exactly. Hydrogen is not formed by nuclear reactions in stars, hydrogen was formed not long after the Big Bang, when the expanding universe had cooled sufficiently that an electron and a proton could combine to form a hydrogen atom. Helium and all the other elements that are heavier than hydrogen, were formed by the process of nuclear fusion, in stars.
What is the fuel of a star in space?
Hydrogen , Helium and a few heavier elements.
What are five objects that form the sun?
The sun is formed of hydrogen and helium, and a small amount of heavier elements. All of it is in the form of gas or plasma.
Where are common elements made?
All elements past hydrogen are formed in stars. During the main stage of stars life, it fuses hydrogen into helium. Once it runs out of Helium to fuse, it begins fusing Helium into heavier elements. This continues until iron is formed. Iron gains no energy from fusion, so fusion stops. If the star is massive enough, it will explode in a supernova. The extreme heat can cause the iron to fuse into even heavier elements.
How are elements beyond hydrogen and helium formed?
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What element does a star run out of that causes them to die?
Hydrogen and helium; those two elements are the fuel for the stars. First they fuse hydrogen to helium, later they fuse helium to heavier elements.
Why does your sun have 2 percent heavier elements and from where do they come?
I think it's our Sun which gets heavier elements from fusion of hydrogen and other light elements.Edit: Our Sun does create helium from hydrogen by fusion, but that's all. The reason it has heavier elements is that these come from the nebula that formed the Sun. The heavier elements are thought to have come from stars that exploded as "supernovas", a long time ago.
