The Origin of Elements

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
ILOCOS SUR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

BY: LEXTER C. SUPNET│TII-ISNHS-SHS

AGREE OR DISAGREE?

1. The stars are smaller than the Sun.

2. Elements are formed under high pressure in the earth.
3. The chemical elements simply exist, and have no specific or known origins.
4. Stars like the sun burn forever and do not change.
5. All elements are equally abundant in the solar system.
6. The periodic table is organized in the order of the discovery of the elements
7. The identity of the atom depends on what it looks like.
8. The atom is the smallest unit of matter.
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

Nucleo – ‘to do with nuclei’

Synthesis – ‘to make’

NUCLEOSYNTHESIS – the creation of (new) atomic nuclei.

The process that creates new atomic nuclei from

pre-existing nucleons, primarily protons and
neutrons.
TYPES OF NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

 BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

 STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
 SUPERNOVA NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
BIG BANG NUCLEOSYSNTHESIS

 After the Big Bang, the universe expand and cooled.

 The first elements were formed three minutes after the Big Bang.

H He
BIG BANG NUCLEOSYSNTHESIS

 300, 000 years after the Big Bang, full atoms (neutral) were produced.

e- e-

75% H He 25%
e-

KEY RATIO
STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

 Takes place through the process of FUSION to the center of stars.

 Responsible to the formation of elements from Helium (He) up to Iron (Fe)

STAR Li
High Pressure
and High
Temperature ENERGY
(LIGHT AND
HEAT)
 FUSION
+ +

+
e- + + +

H =
+ +

The universe was Due to extreme heat and The mass of two Neutrons
expanding but Gravity pressure, the protons gain and two Protons is slightly
was also at work making enough energy to greater than the mass of
the Hydrogen atoms overcome repulsive the He nucleus. The mass
come together. As they electrostatic force. difference is converted
move faster, the atom into Energy by Einsteins’
becomes a plasma; the formula for Energy-Mass
electron escapes leaving Equivalence, E-mc2.
protons behind.
 Too
Fe STARFe
much
Star Dies
STAR
Core
Collapse
SUPER
NOVA

The
Limit

400B x brighter than the Sun

With energy breaking the Fe
barrier
SUPERNOVA NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

 Violent explosions in a supernova.

 2 key characteristics that lets supernova create heavier elements
1. Extreme temperatures (up to 100B degrees Celsius, 6000X sun!)
2. Abundant Neutrons
VIOLA!
3-2-1 Summary

3 Types of Nucleosynthesis that you learned.

2 elements that were first formed.

1 Question you have in mind.

2-Minute Paper

Do you agree that we are all made up of

stars? Elaborate.

2
minutes
What do the pictures tell you?
Mind Map

RADIATION
Radioactive Decay

 Nuclide – A particular species or isotope of any element.

Examples:

𝟏𝟒
• 𝟏𝟐𝑪
𝟐𝟑𝟖
• 𝟗𝟐𝑼

Z = “atomzahl” – atomic number

M = “massenzahl” – mass number but A is recommended by American Chemical Society
Example:

Determine the number of protons, electrons, and

neutrons in the flourine atom 𝟗𝑭.
𝟏𝟗

 Proton =9
 Neutron = 10
 Electron = 9 (neutral atom)
 ISOTOPES

 literally means “same place” (iso-, Greek

for same, and tropos, meaning place)

 Atoms that have the same number

of protons (same Z, same element) but
differ in their numbers of
neutrons (different N, and therefore
different A).
ISOTOPES

 The ISOTOPES of an element have the same

chemical properties because they have the same
number of electrons, which determines chemical
activity and reactions. But they differ somewhat in
physical properties because they have different masses.
 ISOTOPES

 1 atom in 6000 is
deuterium
 1 atom in 10,000,00 is
tritium
 Protrium & deuterium are
stable atoms while tritium
is unstable (radioactive).
ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVITY

 Radioactive decay – nucleids whose nuclei undergo spontaneous decay

(disitegration).
 Radioactivity – The spontaneous process of nuclei undergoing a change by
emitting particles or rays.
 Radioactive – Substances that give off such radiation.

GEIGER COUNTER

SI UNIT: SIEVERTS (Sv) is a derived unit of ionizing radiation dose in the International
System of Units (SI) and is a measure of the health effect of low levels of ionizing
radiation on the human body.
*If humans are exposed to 2 Sv, they can die in an instant.
RADIATION VS. RADIOACTIVE ATOM
RADIOACTIVITY

 A nucleus will be RADIOACTIVE if it meets any of the

following criteria:
1. Its atomic number is greater than 83.
2. It has fewer neutrons, n, than protons, p, (except for 11𝐻.
2𝐻𝑒.)
3

3. It is an odd-odd nucleus (except for 21𝐻, 63𝐿𝑖, 105𝐵, 147𝑁.)

EXAMPLE

Identify the radioactive nucleus in each pair and

state your reasoning.
 208
82𝑃𝑏 and 222
86𝑅𝑛.
19
 10 𝑁𝑒 and 20
10𝑁𝑒.
 63
29𝐶𝑢 and 64
29𝐶𝑢.
 Predict which two of the following nuclei are
radioactive.

232 24 40 31
90𝑇ℎ 12𝑀𝑔 19𝐾 15𝑃
TYPES OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY

Alpha (α)
Beta (β)
Gamma (γ)

Parent Daughter emitted particle

nucleus nucleus or ray
Alpha (α)Decay

 The disintegration of a nucleus into nucleus of another element

with the emission of an alpha particle, which is a helium.

Example: 232
90𝑇ℎ
228
88𝑅𝑎 + 42𝐻 e

In nuclear decay equation, the sum of the mass numbers will be the
same on both sides of the arrow, as will the sum of the atomic
numbers. An alpha particle with two protons has a positive chage of
+2e. An alpha decay is common to elements with atomic number
greater than 83.
Sample Problem

238
92𝑈 undergoes alpha decay. Write the equation for the process.

Solution:
STEP 1: Write the symbol for the parent nucleus followed by the arrows.
238
92𝑈

STEP 2:
238
92𝑈 _______ + 42𝐻e

STEP 3:
238
92𝑈
234
90𝑇ℎ + 42𝐻e
Beta (β) Decay

 The disintegration of a nucleus into a nucleus of another element with the

emission of a beta particle, which is an electron (−10𝑒).
Example:
14
6𝐶
14
7𝑁 + −10𝑒

In beta decay, with a decrease in the neutron number, a neutron (𝟎𝟏𝒏), is

transformed into a proton and an electron (𝟎𝟏𝒏 𝟏𝒑 + −𝟏𝒆 ). The proton
𝟏 𝟎

remains in the nucleus, and the electron is emitted.

Gamma (γ) Decay

 Occurs when a nucleus emits a gamma ray (γ) and becomes less energetic form
of the same nucleus. A gamma ray is a photon of high-energy electromagnetic
radiation and has no mass number and no atomic number. Gamma rays are
similar to X-rays but are more energetic.
Example:
∗
204
82 𝑃𝑏 204
82𝑃𝑏 +γ
The asterisk (*) following the lead (Pb) symbol means that the nucleus is an excited
state, analogous to an atom being in an excited state with an electron in a higher
energy level. When a nucleus de-excites, one or more gamma rays are emitted.
The nucleus is left in a state of lower excitation and ultimately in the “ground
(stable) state” of the nucleid.
ACTIVITY 1: RADIOACTIVE DECAY

Write the equation of the following radioactive decays:

Alpha decay:
1. Radium-226
2. Uranium-233
3. Neptumium-237
Beta Decay:
1. Sr-90
2. Am-237
Gamma Decay:
1. I-125
 FACT OR MYTH

Are Bananas Radioactive? Can Eating Too Many Can Kill You?
Yes. No. Bananas are slightly radioactive because they contain potassium and
potassium decays.
Potassium is a necessary substance for healthy operation of your body. You would
have to eat a LOT (10 million) of bananas just to compete with the natural
potassium dose of your body.

1 Banana = 1 microsieverts (1/10,000,000 Sv)