Post by Admin on Sept 17, 2023 10:38:12 GMT -7
Hydrogen and a little helium were created in the Big Bang. Gravity pulled clouds of them into stars. Small stars are converting hydrogen into more helium. Slightly larger stars are converting hydrogen into helium and helium into carbon.
Scientists wondered why in their abundance studies, whether the Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System, or Earth's Crust, there were more even numbered elements than odd numbered elements.
It is because after the first layer of burning in stars, it is helium, the first noble gas, being added to make the next element.
Larger stars add helium and carbon burning into oxygen burning. Even larger stars add the next step, helium + oxygen burning produces neon with a complete "happy" 8 proton, neutrons, and electrons - NEON - the second noble gas.
When those early stars went nova, they made the first molecular clouds that new stars would be formed from.
Next comes magnesium, then silicon, and IRON - the death element for stars. Why death? Because making iron uses more energy than it creates, cooling the star down until it can no longer resist gravity, ending in novas - or in bigger stars - supernovas.
Novas and supernovas are where the very large and heavy elements are formed.
Iron is fused into cobalt, nickle, copper and zinc.
Add 16 protons, neutrons, and electrons to Copper and you get Silver atoms.
scientists have discovered that Silver is formed during the supernova of Stars 8 times the size of our sun.
Add 16 protons, neutrons, and electrons to Silver and you get Gold!
One less proton, Neutron, and electron and you get platinum. Gold with one more is mercury!
Yes, the metal that is a liquid at room temperature. Fascinating!