E The smallest unit of

Matter

A T O M
G
Smaller than atoms, the building
E blocks of protons and neutrons.

Q U A RK S
G
E A simple substance that cannot be broken
down into smaller parts or changed into
another substance.

E L E ME N T
G
E The Identity of an element

N =
HELIUM

P R O T ONS
G
Atoms with the same number of
E protons but different numbers of
neutron

I S O T O PE S
G
Atoms with the same number of
E protons but different numbers of
neutron

I S O T O PE S
G
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Grade
12
FORMATION OF
ELEMENTS
WEEK 1
LEARNING COMPETENCIES
a. give evidence for and explain the formation of
the light elements in the Big Bang theory;

b. describe the formation of heavier elements

during star formation and evolution;

c. write the nuclear fusion reactions that take place

in stars, which lead to the formation of new
elements.
E

L https://sciencenotes.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Nucleosynthesis.png
TYPES OF NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
1. BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

- The process of light element formation in

the early universe
- H, He, Li, & Be
2. STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
- The creation of elements through
nuclear fusion in the star’s interior.
- H, He, Li Fe

3. SUPERNOVA NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

- The process by which elements heavier

than iron (Fe) are formed.
TYPES OF NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
1. BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

- The process of light element formation in

the early universe
- H, He, Li, & Be
ISOTOPES OF ANTI-PARTICLES ENERGY
S HYDROGEN
γ
1
1H
2
1H 3
H
1 e+ ν¯
Protium Deuteriu Tritium Positron Antineutrino Gamma rays
Y m

ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
M
1. QUARKS 2. LEPTONS

B p n e- ν
Proton Neutron Electron Neutrino

O
ATOMIC MASS

S A

Z
He ELEMENT OR
SUBATOMIC

Y ATOMIC NUMBER

Atomic Number/# of Protons + Neutrons = ATOMIC

M MASS
Atomic mass - Atomic Number/ # of Protons =
NEUTRONS
1

B 1P PROTON
-e
0
1
ELECTRON

O
1
0 N NEUTRON
e
0
+1 POSITRON
NEUTRAL ATOMS

1. 26 A
Mg Fe
12 Z

Atomic Mass: Atomic Mass:

# of Protons (Z): # of Protons (Z): 26

# of Electrons: # of Electrons:

# of Neutrons: # of Neutrons: 30
NEUTRAL ATOMS

A 4. A
Kr Og
Z Z

Atomic Mass: 84 Atomic Mass:

# of Protons (Z): 36 # of Protons (Z):

# of Electrons: # of Electrons: 118
# of Neutrons: # of Neutrons: 176
NEUTRAL ATOMS

Atomic Mass: 24 Atomic Mass: 84

24 A
# of Protons (Z): 12 # of Protons (Z): 36
Mg # of Electrons: 12 # of Electrons: 36
12 # of Neutrons: 12 Kr
Z # of Neutrons: 48

4.
Atomic Mass: 56 Atomic Mass: 294
A A
# of Protons (Z): 26 # of Protons (Z): 118
Fe # of Electrons: 26 Og # of Electrons: 118
Z # of Neutrons: 30 Z # of Neutrons: 176
B
I
BIG BANG THEORY
G
B ❏ It states that about 13.7 billion years ago, the
A
N universe expanded from an extremely small, hot,
G and dense point called a SINGULARITY.
N
U ❏ Expansion of the Universe
C
L
E
O
“3 PIECES OF
S EVIDENCE”
Y
N
❏ Cosmic inflation/Redshift
T
H
E
❏ Cosmic Microwave Background
S
S
I
❏ Abundance of light elements
S
B
I HOW DO LIGHT ELEMENTS FORMED IN THE EARLY
G
B
UNIVERSE?
A ❏ The Big Bang theory predicts that the early universe was a
N
G very hot place.

N ❏ One second after the Big Bang, the temperature of the

U universe was roughly 10 billion degrees and was filled with a
C
L
sea of neutrons, protons, photons, anti-electrons
E (positrons), electrons and neutrinos.
O
S
Y
Made up of QUARKS LEPTONS
N
T
H
E
“ELEMENTARY PARTICLES”
S
S ❏ Particles that are not made up
I of smaller constituents
S
B
I ❏ As the universe cooled, the neutrons either decayed into
G protons and electrons or combined with protons to make
B
A
DEUTERIUM nuclei. (Isotope of a
N hydrogen)
❏ During the first three minutes of the universe, most of the
G
deuterium combine to form Helium
N
U p p p
C + + p + p
L
E
+ + +
O n n
S
Y
n+
DEUTERIUM Helium-3
N
T QUARKS
H
E
S p+n 2
H+γ
2
1H+p 3
He+γ
2
1
S
I Nuclear Nuclear
S equation equation
B Helium-3 Helium-4
I
G p p p
B +
p + +
A
+ + n
N
n n n
G Nuclear
equation:
3
2 He + n 4
He+γ
2
N
U Deuterium Tritium
C p
p
L + +
E
+ n n
O n n
S
Y Nuclear 2
H
1
+ n 3
1 H+γ
N equation:
T Tritium Helium-4
H
E p p p
He+γ
1H
4
S 3
+ p
+ + +
S n 2
n n n
I
S
B OTHER LIGHT ELEMENTS FORMED AFTER THE BIG BANG
I
(SIMPLIFIED)
G Tritium 2 Lithium - 7
B
p Deuterium
p
n
p
A + p + p
+
N + +

G n + p n n
n + n n n
N
U
C
Nuclear
equation:
3
1 H + 2 2
H
1
7
3 Li+γ
L
E
O Tritium Helium-4 Lithium - 7
S
Y p p
p p p
N +
+ n +

T n +
p
+
n
+

n
n + n n
H n
E
S Nuclear 3
H + 4
He
S equation
1 2 7
3 Li+γ
I :
S
B OTHER LIGHT ELEMENTS FORMED AFTER THE BIG BANG
I
G
(SIMPLIFIED)
Helium-3 Helium-4 Beryllium-
B 7
A p p p p
p p + p
N + p
G + + + + + +

n
n n n n
+

N
n
U
C 3
2 He + 4
2 He 7
4 Be
L
E
O Beryllium- Lithium - 7
S 7
Y p p
N p p decay p p
p
+ +
p
T
+ +

n
+ n +
n
+
+ +
H n
+ n
E n n n
S
S
I
7
Be
4
+ n 7
Li
3
+ proto
S
n
B
I
REMEMBER:
G
B
A
N ❏ In order for an atom/element to form, subatomic
G particles must collide and coalesce.
N
U
C HELIU
L M
E
O
S
Y
N NUCLEAR FUSION/ FUSION
T REACTION
H
E
- The process by which subatomic particles
S combine to form an atom.
S
I
S
B
I “2 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE FORMATION
G
B OF ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE”
A
N
G

N
U
C
L
E
O
S
Y
N
T
H
TEMPERATURE DISTANCE
E
S
S
I
S