PHYSICAL

SCIENCE
CORNELIO NOEL V. TOGONON, LPT
Special Science Teacher 1
 Formation of
heavier
elements during
star formation
and evolution
 OBJECTIVES
Explain the role of stellar evolution in the formation of heavier
elements. (PSCI12-IIIg-12.2)
Subtasks:
1. Identify the heavier elements formed in the star evolution and
their atomic masses.
2. Illustrate the formation of heavier elements in the stages of
star evolution.
3. Appreciate the importance of the formation of heavier
elements.
 ACTIVITY 1.
WORD PUZZLE

1.Write down words which are related to

star and element formation.
2.Write the meaning of the encircled
words based on your prior knowledge.
The theory states that the universe developed
13.7 billion years ago from a very small,
extremely dense, and hot state that expanded
rapidly.
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
Nucleosynthesis is the process that
creates new atomic nuclei from
pre-existing nucleons and nuclei.
HYDROGEN
Hydrogen is a chemical element; it
has symbol H and atomic number 1.
BETA
Beta particles (β) are high energy,
high speed electrons (β-) or
positrons (β+) that are ejected from
the nucleus by some radionuclides
during a form of radioactive decay
called beta-decay.
ALPHA
Alpha particles (a) are composite
particles consisting of two protons
and two neutrons tightly bound
together. They are emitted from the
nucleus of some radionuclides
during a form of radioactive decay,
called alpha-decay.
HELIUM
Helium is a chemical element; it has
symbol He and atomic number 2.
SUN
The Sun is the star at the center of the
Solar System. It is a massive, hot ball of
plasma, inflated and heated by energy
produced by nuclear fusion reactions at
its core.
 NUCLEUS
It is the small, dense region
consisting of protons and neutrons
at the center of an atom,
FUSION
Nuclear fusion is the combination
of two or more atomic nuclei to
form one or more different nuclei.
NUCLEI
Nucleus (plural)

RADIATION
Radiation is energy that comes
from a source and travels through
space at the speed of light.
SUPERNOVA
A supernova is a powerful and
luminous explosion of a star.
GAMMA
Gamma rays have the smallest
wavelengths and the most energy
of any wave in the electromagnetic
spectrum.
ATOM
The smallest unit of matter.

ELEMENT
An element is a substance that
cannot be broken down into a
simpler format.
 STAR
any massive self-luminous celestial
body of gas that shines by radiation
derived from its internal energy
sources.
FISSION
occurs when a neutron slams into a
larger atom, forcing it to excite and
split into two smaller atoms
PROTOSTAR
A protostar is a very young star
that is still gathering mass from its
parent molecular cloud.
STABLE
It is the ability of an object to
maintain its balance after being
disturbed.
Activity 2.
Big Bang Boom! Building the
Universe, One Element at a
Time
Directions:
Illustrate and explain the
formation of heavier elements
in the stages of star evolution.
The theory states that the universe developed
13.7 billion years ago from a very small,
extremely dense, and hot state that expanded
rapidly.
The origin of all the naturally occurring
elements fall into two phases:

➢ BIGBANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS (PRIMORDIAL)

➢ STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
- is the process that creates new atomic
nucleus from pre-existing nucleons,
which is protons and neutrons.
The theory states that the universe developed
13.7 billion years ago from a very small,
extremely dense, and hot state that expanded
rapidly.
Protons and neutrons combined together and
formed light elements.

Hydrogen Helium Beryllium Lithium

 a process by which neutron and protons
combine together to form a new atom.

Hydrogen Helium Beryllium Lithium

How were elements
heavier than
beryllium formed?
The formation of heavy elements by
the fusion of lighter nuclei in the
interior of stars.
 OBJECTIVES
Give evidence for and describe the formation of
heavier elements during star formation and
evolution. S11/12PS-IIIb-11
Subtasks:
1. Identify main sequence stars, giants, red
giants, and white dwarfs
2. Discuss the Nuclear processes in the formation
of heavy elements.
The formation of heavy elements by
the fusion of lighter nuclei in the
interior of stars.
The star formation theory proposes that
stars form due to the collapse of the dense
regions of a molecular cloud. As the cloud
collapses, the fragments contract to form a
stellar core called protostar.
STELLAR STAGES:
IDENTIFYING STARS
FROM STAGES OF LIFE
Description: The most stable and longest phase of a
star's life.
Characteristics:
• Fusing hydrogen into helium in their core.
• Stable size and luminosity determined by mass.
• Examples: Our Sun, Proxima Centauri, Sirius A
Description: A general term for stars that have exhausted their core hydrogen
and transitioned to burning other elements.
Characteristics:
• Expanded outer layers, cooler surface temperature than main sequence
stars.
• Can be further classified as:
• Red giants: Lower-mass stars (0.4 - 10 solar masses), typically red in
color.
• Blue giants: Higher-mass stars (10 - 25 solar masses), hotter and
bluer than red giants.
The star formation theory proposes that
stars form due to the collapse of the dense
regions of a molecular cloud. As the cloud
collapses, the fragments contract to form a
stellar core called protostar.
Description: Specifically refers to giants formed from
lower-mass stars (0.4 - 10 solar masses).
Characteristics:
• Fusing hydrogen in a shell around a helium core.
• Cool surface temperature (around 3,000 - 5,000
K), hence the red color.
• Example: Arcturus.
Description: The remnants of dead stars after they have shed their outer layers
during the giant phase.
Characteristics:
• Extremely dense (comparable to the mass of our Sun packed into the size
of Earth).
• Very hot (around 10,000 - 100,000 K) despite faint luminosity due to small
size.
• Slowly cool down over billions of years.
• Example: Sirius B.
MULTIPLE-SHELL
RED GIANT
The discovery of the interstellar medium
of gas and dust during the early part of
the 20th century provided a crucial piece
of evidence to support the star formation
theory.
Other pieces of evidence come from the
study of different stages of formation
happening in different areas in space
and piecing them together to form a
clearer picture.
Energy in the form of
Infrared Radiation (IR) is
detected from different stages
of star formation.
Extinction in astronomy means the
absorption and scattering of
electromagnetic radiation by gases and
dust particles between an emitting
astronomical object and an observer.
NUCLEAR PROCESSES
IN THE FORMATION
OF HEAVY ELEMENTS
 NUCLEAR PROCESSES
1. Proton-Proton Chain Reaction
2. CNO (Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen) Cycle
3. Tri alpha process
4. Alpha ladder process
 Proton

Deuterium

Neutron

Proton
Deuterium

Tritium
Neutron Neutron
1. Proton-Proton
Chain Reaction

Involves the fusion

of proton
(Hydrogen) to
form Helium.
 Proton v - neutrino
Neutron 𝛄 - gamma ray
Positron

Helium-3

v
deuterium

Helium-4

Helium-3
deuterium
v 𝛄
2.CNO (CARBON,
NITROGEN,
OXYGEN) CYCLE

The stars on the

Main Sequence fuse
hydrogen into
helium via six-
stage sequence of
reactions.
3 .T R I A L P H A
PROCESS

Is the fusion of
three alpha
particles (4He) to
form a carbon
atom(12C).
4.ALPHA LADDER
PROCESS

Alpha particle
fusion happens at its
core and creates
more heavy
elements until Iron
is formed.
1. Proton-Proton Chain Reaction
– From proton to form Helium
2. CNO (Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen) Cycle
- proton with Carbon, Nitrogen, and
Oxygen to form Helium
3. Tri alpha process – 3 Helium to form Carbon
4. Alpha ladder process – Helium produces
Heavy elements to form Iron
 NEUTRON CAPTURE

A neutron is added to a seed

nucleus.

1. S-process or slow process

2. R-process or rapid process
 S-PROCESS/
SLOW PROCESS
➢ Happens when there is a slow rate of
capturing neutrons while there is a faster
rate of radioactive decay hence increasing
the proton.
 R-PROCESS/
RAPID PROCESS
➢ there is a faster rate ➢ this is what happens
of capturing neutron in a supernova
before it undergoes forming heavier
radioactive decay elements than Iron
thus, more neutrons with the process
can be combined at known as Supernova
the nucleus. Nucleosynthesis.
How are elements heavier than Iron
(Fe) form?
 STARS
COLLAPSE
 SUPERNOVA

It releases tremendous
amount of energy
enough to synthesize
elements heavier than
Iron.
 SUPERNOVA

The explosion of star or supernova is believed to be

the source of other elements heavier than Iron. During
the explosion, these heavy elements are dispersed into
the space. Aside from gases Hydrogen and Helium in
space, other evidence of star formation is the energy
emitted during nuclear reaction. It is also the energy
emitted by different forms of radiation such as UV,
Infrared, X-ray, radio wave and microwave.
R A D I O A C T I V E D E C AY

1. ALPHA DECAY
2. BETA DECAY
3. GAMMA DECAY
 A L P H A D E C AY

A particle with two protons and two

neutrons is emitted resulted to a lighter
new element.
4
2𝐻𝑒
 B E TA D E C AY

A neutron becomes a proton, and an

electron will be ejected resulting to a
new element with the same mass.
 G A M M A D E C AY

A gamma ray will be emitted when a

radioactive nuclide leaves a nucleus in
an excited state.
Determine the type of nuclear reaction in each item and
write the product of the following chemical reactions on
the space provided for product side.

____ 1. 32
15𝑃
32
16𝑆 + ______

______ 2. 238
92𝑈
234
90𝑇ℎ + ______
234 234
______ 3. 90𝑇ℎ 90𝑇ℎ + ______
______ 4. 131
53𝐼
131
54𝑋𝑒 + ______
______ 5. 226
88𝑅𝑎
222
86𝑅𝑛 + _______
Write the balanced nuclear reaction of the following
elements under alpha, beta and gamma decay.

ELEMENT RADIOACTIVE BALANCED

DECAY CHEMICAL
Uranium 235 Alpha Decay
Beta Decay
Gamma Decay
Write the balanced nuclear reaction of the following
elements under alpha, beta and gamma decay.

ELEMENT RADIOACTIVE BALANCED

DECAY CHEMICAL
Uranium 238 Alpha Decay
Carbon 14 Beta Decay
Barium 137 Gamma Decay
How do stars create
heavier elements?
Why are there only hydrogen and
helium in the early universe, and
where do the other elements
come from?
 Why are heavier
elements important
for life?
 What would the
Earth be like without
heavy elements?
 What is
Big Bang Theory?
 What is
Big Bang
Nucleosynthesis?
 What is Stellar
Nucleosynthesis?
 What are the
nuclear processes?
What are the neutron
capture reaction?