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Chapter 27: Problem 17

Why were only the four lightest chemical elements produced in the early universe?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Only the four lightest chemical elements were formed in the early universe due to the extreme conditions at the time. This period was so hot and dense that nuclear reactions took place, combining protons and neutrons to form the nuclei of these lightest elements. The formation of heavier elements requires even more extreme conditions, which were not prevalent during the early universe.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Four Lightest Elements

The four lightest chemical elements are Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, and Beryllium.
02

Explain the Conditions in the Early Universe

In the early stages of the universe, particularly in the first three minutes after the Big Bang, the conditions were incredibly hot and dense. This environment was suitable for nuclear reactions (the process of forming new atomic nuclei).
03

Discuss the Role of Nuclear Reactions

These nuclear reactions basically involved protons and neutrons coming together to form the nuclei of the lightest elements. More complex reactions lead to the formation of slightly heavier elements - helium, lithium, and beryllium.
04

Discuss the Limitation of These Reactions

However, creating elements heavier than these four requires conditions even more extreme than those present in the early universe. This is why the synthesis of heavier elements did not occur until much later, inside the cores of stars.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(a) If a Population III star had a surface temperature of \(10^{5} \mathrm{~K}\), what was its wavelength of maximum emission? In what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does this wavelength lie? (b) To ionize a hydrogen atom requires a photon of wavelength \(91.2 \mathrm{~nm}\) or shorter. Explain how Population III stars caused reionization. (c) If reionization occurred at \(z=11\), what do we measure the wavelength of maximum emission of a Population III star to be? In what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does this wavelength lie? (d) The image that opens this chapter was made using infrared wavelengths. Suggest why these wavelengths were chosen.

Describe the large-scale structure of the universe as revealed by the distribution of clusters and superclusters of galaxies.

Why do astronomers suspect that globular clusters were among the first objects to form in the history of the universe? Why not something larger and more massive?

Describe an example of each of the four basic types of interactions in the physical universe. Do you think it possible that a fifth force might be discovered someday? Explain your answer.

Is it possible for a single hydrogen atom, with a positively charged proton and a negatively charged electron, to be created as a virtual pair? Why or why not?
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