Formation of Heavy Elements

Mariel P. Lumibao, LPT, MEd and Atomic Structure

Facilitator
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students are
expected to:
– explain stellar nucleosynthesis;
– explain the formation of heavy elements alongside the
formation of stars and its evolution;
– explain how the concept of atomic number led to the
synthesis of new elements in the laboratory;
– write isotopic symbols.
Have you also wondered
what stars are made of?
What keeps them shining
so bright?
Are there also stars that
do not spark?
 Formation of Heavy Elements
1. Stellar
Nucleosynthesis
2. Supernova
Nucleosynthesis
Stellar Nucleosynthesis
Stellar
– of or pertaining to the stars;
consisting of stars.
Stellar Nucleosynthesis
– is the creation (nucleosynthesis) of
chemical elements by nuclear
fusion reactions within stars.
Star Life Style
Average
Star
Average Star
1. RED GIANT
2. WHITE DWARF
3. NEBULA
4. PROTOSTAR
5. MAIN SEQUENCE STAR
6. BLACK DWARF
 Red Giant
– The star is unable to
generate heat when it runs
out of hydrogen in its core
leading to its contraction
and expansion.
– It cools down and glows
red.
– The Helium fused into
Carbon.
White Dwarf – Red giant star becomes
exhausted of nuclear
fuel, the outer material
is blown off into space
leaving the inert Carbon.
– also called a
degenerate dwarf, is a
stellar core remnant
composed mostly of
electron-degenerate
matter. A white dwarf is
very dense: its mass is
comparable to that of
the Sun, while its
volume is comparable to
that of Earth.
– A nebula is a giant cloud Nebula
of dust and gas in space.
Some nebulae (more
than one nebula) come
from the gas and dust
thrown out by the
explosion of a dying star,
such as a supernova.
Other nebulae are
regions where new stars
are beginning to form.
A nebula is a giant cloud
of dust and gas in space.
Protostar
– It is formed from
nebula due to the
gravity that
pulled Hydrogen
gas together until
it spins faster
and faster and
becomes ignited.
 Main Sequence Star
– starts to form
when nuclear
fusion occurs at
the core of the
star, it begins to
contract, glow
and become
stable. Hydrogen
is converted into
Helium.
Black Dwarf
– This is said to
be the remain
of the white
dwarf that
cooled down
and no longer
emits light
and heat.
Massive Star
Neutron Star
– is formed
from
supernova
explosion.
 Supernova
– Explosion of star
– releases large
amount of energy.
– Because of that,
elements are
dispersed into the
space.
Black Hole
– s a region in
space where
gravity is too
strong that no
matter can
escape from it.
 Red Super Giant
– the largest
known star.
 Atomic
Structure
Atoms
– contain three
subatomic
particles; protons,
neutrons, and
electrons. Protons
and neutrons are
found in the
nucleus.
 Electrons
– are a type of
subatomic
particle with a
negative charge.
Neutron
– are a type of
subatomic particle
with no charge (they
are neutral).
– Like protons, neutrons
are bound into the
atom's nucleus as a
result of the strong
nuclear force.
 Proton
– are a type of
subatomic particle
with a positive
charge.
– Protons are bound
together in an atom's
nucleus as a result of
the strong nuclear
force.
Atomic Mass Unit (AMU)
– is a unit of mass equal to one-twelfth
the mass of a carbon-12 atom
Isotopes
– are atoms of the
same element
that have
different
numbers of
neutrons but
the same
number of
protons and
electrons.