FORMATION OF

ELEMENTS
 Prayer
Heavenly Father
Grant me each day the desire to do my best,
To grow mentally and morally as well as physically,
To be kind and helpful to my classmates and teachers,
To be honest with myself as well as with others,
Help me to be a good sport and smile when I lose as well as when
I win,
Teach me the value of true friendship
Help me always to conduct myself so as to bring credit to my
school.
Amen
Objective:
Give evidence for and
describe the formation of
heavier elements during
star formation and
evolution.S11/12PS-IIIa-1
Specific Objective:
Explain stellar nucleosynthesis;
Describe the different stages of life
cycle of stars;
Cite the different heavy elements
formed in each stages of Star Cycle;
Big Bang

Big Bang Theory

 Origin of Elements
Big-Bang Theory Cosmic Inflation
(expansion of universe)

P P

Nucleosynthesis P

N N
- Is a process that creates new
atomic nucleus from pre-existing P
nucleuns.
 There are several theories about the origin of
the universe. The widely accepted among
these is the big bang theory, which was first
proposed in 1920 by Belgian astronomer
George Lemaitre(1894-1966) as the “primeval
atom” theory.
 Accordingto the big bang theory, about 13.7 billion years
ago, all matter and energy in the universe existed in a
compact point called singularity. Then, an imbalance in
the compact point caused it to expand. This event is
referred to as the big bang, which hurled matter and
energy in all directions.
 BIG - BANG
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
???
BIG-BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS ???
*4 important concept
1. The Big-Bang is an expansion of the
space.
2. As the universe expands, it cools.
3. The more energetic the particles are, the
higher their temperature will be.
4. The identity of the element depends on
how many protons it has.
Proton Neutron

Deuteron

Hydrogen
Deuteron Neutron Triton/tritium

Proton Triton Helium

Proton

Neutron
Deuteron

Helium

Proton Triton Helium

Proton
Neutron
Helium Triton Lithium

Helium 4 Helium 3 Beryllium

 Nuclear
Symbol
Number of protons
and neutrons (Mass
Number)

Number of
proton (Atomic
Number)
Symbol
of
element
Big Bang
The Big Bang Theory is a cosmological model that
describes how the universe started its expansion
about 13.8 billion years ago
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) is the process of
producing light elements during the Big bang
expansion
The correlation between the predicted and observed
cosmic abundances of hydrogen and helium was the
major proof of the Big bang theory.
 STELLAR
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
???
STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
Process by which elements are
formed within the stars as a result
of nuclear fusion.

NUCLEAR FUSION
Process by which multiple
nuclei joined together to form
a heavier nucleus.
 STAR FORMATION

Stars are formed when gravity started

acting on matter and particles
expanding with the universe. Dense
region of molecular clouds, known as
stellar nurseries (interstellar matter)
collapse to form young stellar objects
known as stellar PROTOSTARS which
eventually become mature stars.
Stellar Evolution – is a process by which a star changes during
its lifetime.
 Allstars are born from clouds of
gas called nebulae or molecular
clouds that collapsed due to
gravity.
 As the cloud collapses, it breaks
into smaller fragments which
contract to form a superhot
stellar core called PROTOSTAR.
 The protostar continues to accumulate gas and
dust from the molecular cloud, and continues
to contract while the temperature increases.
 Hydrogen will start combining with one another
when the temperature reached 10,000 K in a
series of proton-proton fusion reactions. These
nuclear reactions release positrons and
neutrinons which increase pressure and stop
the contractions.
  When the contraction
stops, the gravitational
equilibrium is reached, and
the protostar has become
the MAIN SEQUENCE STAR.
 1. PROTON-PROTON CHAIN

Deuterium/ Protium/ Helium – 3

Deuteron Proton
DEUTERIUM BURNING

2
1
He 1
1
He 3
He
2

Helium – 3 Helium – 3 Helium – 4

A star spend most of its lifetime at this stage.
 Starcondition during this period is referred to as
stable main sequence star. Hot stars at this phase
are luminous blue, while cool stars are faint red.
The sun being intermediate in temperature, gives a
yellow color. A yellow star remains a main
sequence star for about 10 billion years.
2. Carbon Fusion Cycle or CNO Cycle

Proton
⁴He ¹He
Neutron ¹He ᵧ
Positron
ᵧ Gamma Ray
15
N
12
C
13
N
� Neutrino �
� � �
15
O
13
C �
14
N

ᵧ ᵧ 1
1
H H
 Theproton-proton chain reactions will exhaust all
hydrogen in the core of a main sequence star.
 Hydrogen fusion becomes significant on the outer
shell, while some of it is also fused to the core`s
surface.
 When most of the hydrogen in the core
is fused into helium, fusion stops and
the pressure in the core decreases.
 Helium is converted to carbon in the
core via alpha processes, increasing
the star`s core density and
temperature and subsequently
creating a RED GIANT.
 Therate of alpha fusion processes
decreases as carbon is formed in the
core.
 Gravity again squeezes the star.
 The stars fuel is depleted and over time
the outer material of the star is blown
off into space as planetary nebula.
 Theonly thing that remains is the hot
and inert carbon. The star becomes a
white dwarf.
 Life Cycle of a Star

Average Planetary
Star Nebula
Red
Giant
Proto
star

White
Dwarf

Stellar
Nebula Main Sequence
Star
 The star goes through a series of
stages where heavier elements are
fused in the core and the shells
around the core. The element oxygen
is formed from carbon fusion; neon
from oxygen fusion, silicon from neon
fusion; and iron from silicon fusion.
 The stars become a multiple-shell
red-giant
3. Alpha Ladder
As the fusion of elements with ⁴He
continues, heavier elements are
created all the way to IRON. This
makes the sun more massive.
 When the core can no longer produce
energy to resist gravity, the star is
doomed.
 Gravitysqueezes the core until the star
explodes and releases a large amount of
energy.
 The star explosion is called a supernova.
The explosion also releases massive
amount of high energy neutrinos which,
in turn, breaks nucleons and release
neutrons. These neutrons are picked up by nearby
stars and lead the creation of elements
heavier than Iron.
Supernova releases tremendous
amount of energy enough to
synthesize elements heavier
than Iron
Elements heavier than Iron
are formed during supernova
explosion
 Aftersupernova explosion, it is
believed that a NEUTRON STAR is
formed. Which is also known as the
smallest star.

 Blackhole is a region in space where

gravity is too strong that no matter can
escape from it.
 Life Cycle of a Star

Proto Main Sequence

star Star Neutron
Star

Stellar
Nebula
Red
Supernova Black
Massive Supergiant
Star Hole
 As the energy at the core of the stars decreases, nuclear fusion
cannot produce elements higher than Iron, Because fusion reaction
becomes unfavorable.

This is because the

NUCLEAR BINDING ENERGY
PER NUCLEON, the energy Therefore, different pathways
that holds the nucleus is needed for heavier elements
intact, decreases after to be formed.
Iron.
 Planetary
Life Cycle Nebula White
of a Star Average Dwarf
Star

Red Neutron
Giant Star

Proto
star Main Sequence
Stellar
Star
Nebula

Red
Massive Supergiant Supernova
Black Hole
Star
Synthesis of heavier elements happens
via NEUTRON CAPTURE  Neutron capture can be
slow or rapid.

 Neutron capture, a neutron is added to a seed

nucleus. The addition of neutron produces a
heavier isotope of the elements.
Synthesis of heavier elements happens
via NEUTRON CAPTURE  Neutron capture can
be slow or rapid.

 S process or slow process

happen when there is
slow rate of capturing
neutron while there is
faster rate of radioactive
decay hence increasing
the proton by 1.
Synthesis of heavier elements happens
via NEUTRON CAPTURE  Neutron capture can
be slow or rapid.

 R process means that there is a faster rate of capturing

neutron before it undergoes radioactive decay, thus more
neutron can be combined at the nucleus. This is what happens
in a supernova forming heavier elements than Iron with the
process known as supernova nucleosynthesis.
Direction: Fill in the diagram with the correct term used during
the stages of star formation where heavy elements are formed.
Activity 3. Fill in the diagram with the correct term used during
the stages of star formation where heavy elements are formed.
The nuclear reactions predicted
by Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis