LESSON 2:

FORMATION OF
PHYSICAL SCIENCE

HEAVY
ELEMENTS
 LEARNING GOALS:

⦿ briefly discuss stellar nucleosynthesis

or fusion;
⦿ discuss other processes that led to
other elements;
⦿ Write out fusion reactions involved
The Origin of all naturally occurring
elements fall into two phases:

⦿ Big Bang ⦿ Stellar

Nucleosynthesis Nucleosynthesis
= the origin and = the origin and
production of light production of “heavy”
elements after the Big elements
Bang
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
⦿ the process that creates new atomic
nucleus from pre-existing nucleons, which
is the protons and neutrons
⦿ The energy and temperature of the universe
are extremely high to cause the n and p+ to
combine and form certain species of atomic
nuclei in a process called nuclear fusion.
NUCLEAR FUSION = the joining of nuclei
proton neutron

=
ORIGIN OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS
⦿ Heavy elements were
formed only billions
of years after the
formation of stars.

⦿ The density inside a star is great

enough to sustain fusion for
extended time periods required to
synthesize heavy elements.
⦿ The formation of heavy
elements by fusion of lighter
nuclei in the interior of stars
is called “stellar
nucleosynthesis”.
 Main-sequence stars
⦿ The first fusion
process occurs in
the hydrogen core
of stars such as the
sun with a
temperature of less
than 15 million K.
Stars are hot and dense enough to hydrogen-1 to
helium..
The Proton – Proton chain reaction
⮚a nuclear fusion reactions by which stars convert
hydrogen to helium and it operates inside the Sun
and stars of similar mass

⮚ 3He forms from deuterium and proton fusion, also

known as deuterium burning. This immediately
consumes all deuterium produced.

2H + 1H → 3He + γ
 Carbon –Nitrogen- Oxygen Cycle (CNO)

⮚other process of stellar nucleosynthesis in which stars

on the main sequence fuse hydrogen into helium

⮚it involves repeated proton capture and beta-plus

decay
 What will happen if a low massive star
main sequence star run out of
hydrogen fuel?
When a main sequence star begins to run out
of hydrogen fuel, the star becomes a red
giant or a red supergiant.

which eventually
end up to..

Supernova
explosions
Triple alpha process
8Be 4He

⦿occur in red giant stars 4He

⦿a nuclear fusion
reaction in which 3
helium nuclei (alpha 12C
particles) fuse to form
a carbon nucleus, 4He

thereby releasing
energy
4He + 4He → 8Be
8Be + 4He → 12C + γ
Y
▪ The star can keep growing into a
supergiant as it accumulates mass.

ALPHA LADDER

▪ More and more alpha particles are

fused to create heavier elements
all the way to iron, making the
core and star itself more massive.
 CHAIN OF ALPHA PROCESS
Atomic mass 12C 4He 16O
+ In this, an alpha
Atomic no. 6 2 8
20Ne particle is
16O + 4
He 10 added to an
8 2 atomic nucleus
20Ne+ 4He 24Mg
(such a as
10 2 12
Carbon) to form
24Mg 4He 28Si Oxygen.
+
12 2 14
28Si 4He 32S
+
14 2 16
32S
+ 4He 36Ar
16 2 18
36Ar + 4He 40Ca
18 2 20
40Ca + 4He 44Ti
20 2 22
44Ti 4He
+ 48Cr
22 2 24
 Elements heavier than Iron

⦿ Elements heavier than iron cannot be formed

through fusion as tremendous amounts of
energy are needed for the reaction to occur.
⦿ Heavy elements are formed in a supernova, a
massive explosive death of star.
FORMATION OF HEAVY ELEMENTS

⦿ During a supernova, the

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 that explosion, all of

these elements are
expelled out into space.
 ⦿ In supernova, neutron capture reaction
FORMATION OF HEAVY

takes place, leading to formation of

heavy elements by addition of more
neutrons to existing nuclei instead of
ELEMENTS

fusion of light nuclei.

⦿ Atomic nuclei often needed to absorb
neutrons rapidly, a phenomenon known
as the "r-process“.
⦿ Other heavy elements are also
synthesized through s-process involving
slow neutron capture in red giant stars.

Note: Adding neutrons to a nucleus

doesn’t change an element. Rather, a
more massive isotope of the same
element is produced.
 REFERENCES:

⦿
How elements are formed — Science Learning
Hub
⦿ https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz
⦿ https://www.thoughtco.com/stellar-
nucleosynthesis-2699311
⦿ https://www.britannica.com/science/CNO-cycle