PHYSICAL SCIENCE

LOREN MARIE L. ACEBO

SHS SCIENCE TEACHER
REVIEW:

⮚ Stellar nucleosynthesis is the

process by which elements are
formed within stars.
⮚ The star formation theory proposes
that stars form due to the collapse
of the dense regions of a molecular
cloud.
PROTON-PROTON CHAIN
AND
CNO PROCESS
Learning Objective:

1. Define Proton-Proton Chain

and Carbon Nitrogen Cycle.
2. Explain the sequence of PP
chain and CNO process.
WHAT IS PROTON-PROTON CHAIN
AND
CNO PROCESS?
 Proton-Proton Chain

The proton-proton chain is a series of

thermonuclear reactions in the stars. It is the
main source of energy radiated by the sun and
other stars. It happens due to the large kinetic
energies of the protons. If the kinetic energies of
the protons are high enough to overcome their
electrostatic repulsion, then proton-proton chain
proceeds.
The sequence proceeds as
follows:
1.The chain starts
when two protons
fuse. When the
fused proton
breaks, one
proton is
transmuted into a
neutron.
2.The proton
and neutron then
pairs, forming an
isotope of
hydrogen called
deuterium.
3.Another proton
collides with a
deuterium
forming a
helium-3 nucleus
and a gamma
ray.
4.Finally, two
helium-3 nuclei
collide, and a
helium-4 is
created with the
release of two
protons.
Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen (CNO)
Cycle

For more massive and hotter stars,

the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle is
the more favorable route in
converting hydrogen to helium.
The cycle proceeds as follows:
1.Carbon-12
captures a
proton and gives
off a gamma ray,
producing an
unstable
nitrogen-13.
2.Nitrogen-13
undergoes beta
decay to form
carbon-13.
3.Carbon-13
captures a
proton and
releases a
gamma ray to
become
nitrogen-14.
4.Nitrogen-14
then captures
another proton
and releases a
gamma ray to
produce
oxygen-15.
5.Oxygen-15
undergoes
beta decay
and becomes
nitrogen-15
.
6.Finally,
nitrogen-15
captures a proton
and gives off
helium (alpha
particle) ending
the cycle and
returning to
carbon-12.
Unlike the proton-proton chain, the CNO
cycle is a catalytic process. Carbon-12
acts a catalyst for the cycle. It is used in
the initial reaction and is regenerated in
the final one.
SUMMARY:

 Nuclear fusion is a type of reaction that

fuses lighter elements to form heavier ones.

 Hydrogen burning is the stellar process
that produces energy in the stars. There are
two dominant hydrogen burning processes,
the proton-proton chain and carbon-
nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) cycle.
SUMMARY:ints

• Proton-proton chain is a sequence of

thermonuclear reactions in the stars. It is
the main source of energy radiated by the
sun and other stars.
•
• Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle is a
catalytic cycle of gamma emission and beta
decay that converts hydrogen into helium.
ACTIVITY:
(Explain the process of Proton-Proton and CNO Process.)
1. Proton-Proton Chain
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2. CNO Process
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 FOR ALL YOUR ACTIVITIES AND PREVIOUS
ASSIGNMENT YOU CAN VISIT OUR EDMODO
CLASS AND FACEBOOK GROUP :

Edmodo: SHS-TVL(physical Science)

Fb Group: SHS-TVL(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)