The 

abundance of the chemical elements is a measure of the occurrence of the chemical

elements relative to all other elements in a given environment. Abundance is measured in one of
three ways: by the mass-fraction (the same as weight fraction); by the mole-fraction (fraction of
atoms by numerical count, or sometimes fraction of molecules in gases); or by the volume-
fraction. Volume-fraction is a common abundance measure in mixed gases such as planetary
atmospheres, and is similar in value to molecular mole-fraction for gas mixtures at relatively low
densities and pressures, and ideal gas mixtures. Most abundance values in this article are given
as mass-fractions.
For example, the abundance of oxygen in pure water can be measured in two ways: the mass
fraction is about 89%, because that is the fraction of water's mass which is oxygen. However,
the mole-fraction is about 33% because only 1 atom of 3 in water, H2O, is oxygen. As another
example, looking at the mass-fraction abundance of hydrogen and helium in both
the Universe as a whole and in the atmospheres of gas-giant planets such as Jupiter, it is 74%
for hydrogen and 23–25% for helium; while the (atomic) mole-fraction for hydrogen is 92%, and
for helium is 8%, in these environments. Changing the given environment to Jupiter's outer
atmosphere, where hydrogen is diatomic while helium is not, changes the molecular mole-
fraction (fraction of total gas molecules), as well as the fraction of atmosphere by volume, of
hydrogen to about 86%, and of helium to 13%.[Note 1]
The abundance of chemical elements in the universe is dominated by the large amounts of
hydrogen and helium which were produced in the Big Bang. Remaining elements, making up
only about 2% of the universe, were largely produced by supernovae and certain red giant
stars. Lithium, beryllium and boron are rare because although they are produced by nuclear
fusion, they are then destroyed by other reactions in the stars.[1][2] The elements from carbon to
iron are relatively more abundant in the universe because of the ease of making them
in supernova nucleosynthesis. Elements of higher atomic number than iron (element 26) become
progressively rarer in the universe, because they increasingly absorb stellar energy in their
production. Also, elements with even atomic numbers are generally more common than their
neighbors in the periodic table, due to favorable energetics of formation.
The abundance of elements in the Sun and outer planets is similar to that in the universe. Due to
solar heating, the elements of Earth and the inner rocky planets of the Solar System have
undergone an additional depletion of volatile hydrogen, helium, neon, nitrogen, and carbon
(which volatilizes as methane). The crust, mantle, and core of the Earth show evidence of
chemical segregation plus some sequestration by density. Lighter silicates of aluminum are
found in the crust, with more magnesium silicate in the mantle, while metallic iron and nickel
compose the core. The abundance of elements in specialized environments, such as
atmospheres, or oceans, or the human body, are primarily a product of chemical interactions with
the medium in which they reside.

Contents

 1Universe
o 1.1Solar system
o 1.2Relation to nuclear binding energy
 2Earth
o 2.1Crust
 2.1.1Rare-earth elements
o 2.2Mantle
o 2.3Core
o 2.4Ocean
o 2.5Atmosphere
o 2.6Urban soils
 3Human body