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Forming elements heavier than iron and nickel requires the input of energy. Super nova explosions result when the cores of massive stars have exhausted their fuel supplies and burned everything into iron and nickel.

The star then collapses and explodes. Nuclei with mass heavier than nickel (gold, silver, lead, uranium, etc.) form in the explosions. This is called nucleosynthesis. These elements form over seconds, compared to the lighter ones that took billions of years to form, and are much rarer.

This material is thrown out into space and can end up in later generation stars and planets.

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10y ago
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11y ago

at least primarily from supernovae.

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Q: Where do all of the elements that are heavier than hydrogen come from?
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What are two atoms that are heavier than carbon?

Two atoms that are heavier than carbon are nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7 and a higher atomic mass than carbon, while oxygen has an atomic number of 8 and is even heavier than nitrogen.


What elements are formed in cool stars?

In cool stars, elements such as hydrogen and helium are primarily produced through nuclear fusion in their cores. Elements heavier than helium (e.g., carbon, oxygen, and iron) are formed through nucleosynthesis processes during the later stages of a star's lifecycle, such as in red giant stars or during supernova events.


What is lighter than helium but heavier than air?

hydrogen


How is a supernova related to matter found on earth?

Supernovae are responsible for creating heavy elements like iron and gold through nucleosynthesis. These elements are then ejected into space during the explosion and eventually become incorporated into new stars and planets, including Earth. Thus, the matter found on Earth, including elements essential for life, can be traced back to supernova explosions.


What kind of reactions provide a star with energy?

Stars obtain energy from a reaction called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion causes lighter elements to become heavier elements. The most common reaction fuses hydrogen into helium. But helium can fuse further, to even heavier elements. This releases energy until you reach the element iron. Anything heavier than iron consumes energy, rather than releasing it, when it is formed by nuclear fusion.thermonuclear fusion

Related questions

What elements are heavier than hydrogen?

All elements except hydrogen and helium are heavier than hydrogen. This includes elements such as carbon, oxygen, gold, and uranium.


Where did all the elements come from?

Hydrogen, some helium and less lithium are the result of the big bang. All the other elements are made inside the cores of stars, except for elements heavier than iron. All elements heavier than iron are created during supernova explosions.


How are elements heavier than hydrogen formed?

Elements heavier than hydrogen are formed through nuclear fusion processes in stars. When lighter elements fuse together in the intense heat and pressure within a star's core, they can form heavier elements. This process continues throughout a star's life until elements up to iron are created. Elements heavier than iron are formed through supernova explosions or in the collisions of neutron stars.


What is the sun formed from?

hydrogen, helium, and a small amount (less than 2%) of heavier elements


Where did most of the elements heavier than Hydrogen and Helium form in the Universe?

Elements heavier than hydrogen and helium primarily formed in the cores of stars through nuclear fusion processes. Elements up to iron are formed in the cores of stars, while elements heavier than iron are typically produced in supernova explosions or neutron star mergers. These heavy elements are dispersed into space during these catastrophic events, enriching the interstellar medium from which new stars and planets can form.


What are the two main elements of the sun?

The two main elements in the sun are hydrogen and helium. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the sun, making up about 74% of its mass, while helium accounts for about 24%.


What gas is heavier hydrogen or oxygen?

oxygen gas is heavier than hydrogen gas


How are elements formed from hydrogen?

Elements are formed from hydrogen through processes like nuclear fusion in stars. During nuclear fusion, immense heat and pressure cause hydrogen atoms to fuse together to form heavier elements like helium, followed by successive fusion reactions that create progressively heavier elements. This process is responsible for the creation of elements up to iron in the core of stars.


Are you something of starlight?

Not starlight, but the material we are made of was made in stars. All elements heavier than helium, except for a small amount of lithium, are made in stars. All elements heavier than iron come from supernovae.


How are elements heavier than iron are formed?

Elements heavier than iron are formed in super-nova explosions.


What are two atoms that are heavier than carbon?

Two atoms that are heavier than carbon are nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7 and a higher atomic mass than carbon, while oxygen has an atomic number of 8 and is even heavier than nitrogen.


What are some characteristics of stars that might account for the fact that some have more complex elements in their spectra?

Stars that have more complex elements in their spectra are often older and have gone through multiple stages of fusion in their cores. These stars would have had to process lighter elements into heavier ones through nucleosynthesis, leading to a more diverse element composition. Additionally, factors such as mass, temperature, and metallicity can also contribute to the presence of complex elements in a star's spectrum.