Why is it that light elements like gold and uranium have the most hydrogen in the Universe, whereas heavier elements like gold and uranium have the least?
The initial material in the cosmos was hydrogen. The hydrogen clouds then consolidated due to gravity and achieved high temperatures and densities, resulting in the formation of the first stars. The synthesis of heavier nuclei happens in the centers of stars at high temperatures and densities as a result of the fusing of lighter nuclei. This is the process through which heavier elements are created from hydrogen.
First, hydrogen is used to make helium. Beryllium and lithium are derived from helium. Boron is derived from beryllium. Then there’s carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and so forth.
The specific binding energy per nucleon in the nucleus increases as more heavy nuclei are generated. This indicates that surplus nuclear binding energy is generated with each event of light nuclei fusion. This is why the stars are so bright.
The surplus of binding energy released in the form of photons is known as sunlight.
This, however, does not go on indefinitely, but only to the nuclei of iron, cobalt, and nickel. The greatest binding energy per nucleon is found in these nuclei. As a result, nuclei synthesis does not continue any farther on its own.
Energy is not released during the synthesis of heavier nuclei, but it is required to waste a certain amount of energy in order to synthesize, for example, a tungsten nucleus. That is, as the number of elements increases, the specific binding energy per nucleon falls.
How did all of these components from the star end up on our planet?
A star can explode as a supernova if it has gone through all phases of burning and reached iron, cobalt, and nickel. The substance of a star scatters to astronomical distances when a supernova erupts. This chemical can then be found in secondary stars’ composition. Planets and asteroids are created as a result of it. Furthermore, conditions are generated during the explosion for the synthesis of the heaviest nuclei, such as lead, bismuth, gold, platinum, palladium, uranium, thorium, technetium, and so on.
Precious metals, in addition to being beautiful, were developed over billions of years as a consequence of a series of uncommon events.
