PHYSICAL SCIENCE

FIRST SEMESTER
11
Module 1

Exploring the Formation of Elements

During Stellar Formation and
Evolution

By:
Beverly Joy O. Lorenzo, MATS
Horacio Dela Costa High School

Most Essential Learning Competency: Give evidence and describe

the formation of heavier elements during star formation & evolution,
explain how the concept of atomic number led to the synthesis of new
elements in the laboratory (S11/12PS-IIIb-11)
 To the Learners
Before starting this module, I want you to divert your commitment and attention in
accomplishing this module while having fun. As general guide in utilizing this module, carefully
read the set of instructions listed below for you to be guided on how to successfully attain the
objectives of this kit.

1. Read and carefully follow all the guidelines, contents, procedures, and instructions indicated
in every page of this module.

2. This module provides provisions where you can write your answers.

3. Write key concepts and notable ideas you will encounter while using this module on your
notebook to enhance your acquisition of key concept from each lesson.

4. Perform and accomplish all the learning tasks and activities in the module.

5. Coordinate with your teacher for clarifications, misconceptions and elaboration of the lessons
and learning tasks.

6. Enjoy while utilizing this module and have fun learning!

Expectations

In this module, you will learn how heavier elements were formed during the formation and
evolution of stars in addition, this learning resource will also help you explain how the concept of
atomic number led to the synthesis of new elements in the laboratory.
Specifically, this module will help you to:

1. Describe the formation of heavier elements during the formation and evolution of stars.
2. Cite astronomical evidence which justifies the formation of elements during stellar
formation and evolution;
3. Appreciate the importance of atomic number discovery which led to the synthesis of
new elements in the laboratory.

1
 Pretest

Directions: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on the blank
provided before the number.

____1. Which of the following serves as two primordial elements formed in the beginning of the
universe?
A. C & O B. C & H C. He & H D. He & O

____2. Which of the following element is a product of NOT a stellar evolution process?

A. Gold B. Helium C. Silicon D. Na

____3. Which of the following will be the product if Chromium reacts with Helium?

A. Argon B. Iron C. Silicon D. Titanium

____4. How many protons will be immitted during alpha decay?

A.1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

____5. Which of the following is an evidence of element formation during star formation?

A. Elements B. Infrared Radiation C. Solar flares D. Stars

Looking Back

Directions: Using the table below, compare and contrast Isotopes and Atom.

Isotopes Similarities Atom

Directions: Describe the formation of the following elements:

Elements Reactants 1 Reactant 2 Chemical Reaction

Deuterium
Tritium
Helium (Stable)
Lithium

2
 Brief Introduction
Evolution of Star and the Formation of Heavier Elements

Star formation theory asserts that stars are formed when a dense region of molecular
cloud collapse. During this process, fragments of clouds

2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0
https://scontent.fmnl3-
contrast and form a stellar core known as protostar. The
contraction and gravitational force of protostar results in to
increase in temperature which triggers nuclear a reaction
within the star upon reaching 10 million Kelvin. Throughout the
reaction, neutrinos and positrons were released and slow

-
down the reaction. Once the contraction stops and the protostar attain its gravitational equilibrium,
a main sequence star will be formed.

In the core of the main-sequence star, hydrogen fuses with helium through a proton-proton
chain. In addition, the gravitational force of the main-sequence star will force hydrogen and helium
to fuse resulting in turning of the 2 primordial elements. Furthermore, at this stage, helium is
converted to carbon at the core while hydrogen is converted into helium surrounding the core
which denotes the formation of a red giant.

On the other hand, since massive stars possess enough energy, mass, temperature, and
pressure, the star will undergo series of stages where heavier elements are fused around the
shell of the core whereas carbon will be formed through carbon-carbon fusion, neon will be formed
through oxygen fusion, magnesium from neon fusion, silicon from magnesium fusion, and iron
from silicon fusion which denotes the formation of a red giant.

Considering that the majority of helium surrounding the core has been converted into
carbon, the rate of reaction will decrease causing the gravitational force to act squeezing the
entire star. With low mass stars, considering that the amount of energy is not enough to sustain
the reaction and that the star’s fuel has been exhausted, the outer material covering the star will
eventually be blown off leaving an inert carbon core resulting in the formation of a white dwarf.

The first 3 minutes of Big Bang focused primarily on the expansion and cooling of the
universe to the synthesis of the first three elements. On the other hand, the second cosmological
event which is Stellar nucleosynthesis, a process in which heavier elements such as Beryllium
4 to Iron 26 were formed by combining protons and neutrons from the nuclei of lighter elements.
In this process, heavier elements are created in different types of stars as they die or explode and
the abundance of these elements change as the stars evolve.

Stable Helium reacts with Carbon to produce oxygen and gamma ray under extreme
gravitational force and temperature. Oxygen as the product of the initial reaction is then reacted
with Helium to form Neon and gamma ray (42He + 16
8O
24
12Mg + 0
0Y). The
third reaction involves carbon reacting with another Carbon forming Magnesium and
3
gamma ray (126C + 12
6C
24
12Mg + 0
0Y). On the other hand, Oxygen to
Oxygen reaction will create Silicon and alpha particle (Helium) and gamma ray as a product (168O
16 28 4 0
+ 8O 14Si + 2He + 0Y). The process will continue to form lighter elements
to heavier ones, but not heavier than Iron with an atomic mass of 26. Lastly, a supernova
happens when the core can no longer produce the needed energy to resist gravitational force,
leading to its explosion and release of a large amount of energy.

Pieces of Evidence

One remarkable evidence to support stellar nucleosynthesis and star formation theory is
the discovery of interstellar clouds of dust and gasses which justifies the stages of stellar formation
which is happening across the universe. In addition, infrared radiation being emitted in the process
of stellar formation serves as a strong indication that stellar nucleosynthesis is concurrent with
stellar formation and evolution.

Atomic Number and Synthesis of New Elements

Throughout history, scientists have been working on periodic organized elements as to

their properties and to predict new elements. This is because understanding the properties of
these known elements will provide them a pattern which will help them to discover new elements.
Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Mosely an English chemist arranged the elements in the periodic table by
using the atomic number as a basis. This basis allowed him to identify and predict any element
considering the number of protons which is equal to the atomic number. In addition, he
emphasized that adding proton to an element increases its atomic number and that new element
will be formed.

Nuclear Reaction

Alpha Emission: two protons and two neutrons are immitted resulting to a lighter new element
238 234 4
92 U 90 Th + 2 He

Beta Emission: a neutron becomes a proton and an electron will be ejected resulting to a new
element with the same mass.13153 I 131
54 Xe + 0
-1 e

Alpha Emission: gamma ray will be emitted when a radioactive nuclide leaves a nucleus in an
excited state. 13756 Ba 137
56 Ba + y-photon.

Activity 1.1
Directions: Based on your understanding about the formation of heavier elements during stellar
nucleosynthesis, predict the reactants and products which will be formed by the following
reactions inside the table.

Reactant 1 Reactant 2 Atomic # Mass # Chemical Equation Product

Helium Oxygen
Helium Neon
Helium Magnesium 4
 Helium Silicon
Helium Sulfur
Helium Argon
Helium Calcium
Helium Titanium

Activity 1.2
Directions: Identify the elements formed during the following stages of star formation and
evolution.
Stages What were the elements How these elements were
formed? formed?
Protostar
Main Sequence Star
Red Giant Star
White Dwarf
Supernova

Activity 1.3
Directions: Describe the following stages of star formation and evolution as to the highlight
events which paved way to the formation of elements.
Stages Highlight Event
Protostar
Main Sequence Star
Red Giant Star
White Dwarf
Supernova

Activity 1.4
Directions: Discuss how the evidence of element formation during star formation and evolution
justified the Star formation theory and its correlation to element formation.

5
 Activity 2.1
Directions: Determine the type of chemical reaction of each item (a-emission, b-emission, y-
emission, fission, fusion). In addition, write the product of the following chemical reactions on the
space provided for product side.

__________1. 32
15 P  32
16 S + __________

__________2. 92
238
U  90
234
Th + __________

__________3. 90
234
Th  90
234
Th + __________

__________4. 53
131
I  54
131
Xe + __________

__________5. 88
226
Ra  86
222
Rn + __________

Activity 2.2
Directions: Write the balance chemical reaction of the following elements under alpha, beta
and gamma decay.

ELEMENT RADIO ACTIVE DECAY BALANCED CHEMICAL REACTION

ALPHA DECAY
Uranium 235 BETA DECAY
GAMMA DECAY

ELEMENT RADIO ACTIVE DECAY BALANCED CHEMICAL REACTION

Uranium 238 ALPHA DECAY

Carbon 14 BETA DECAY

Barium 137 GAMMA DECAY

Remember

 Gamma Ray is an electromagnetic radiation with the shortest wavelength immitted during
gamma decay and other reactions.

 Radio Active Nuclei refers to an unstainable nucleus which spontaneously emits particles
and energy throughout the radioactive decay process.

 Supernova is a star that blows apart and releases a large amount of energy.

 Star formation theory proposes the idea that stars were formed due to the collapsing of a
dense region of molecular clouds.

 Stellar nucleosynthesis refers to the process by which elements are formed within the
star during stellar formation and evolution. 6
 Check Your Understanding
Directions: Based on your understanding about this module, analyze and explain the following
questions regarding element formation during star formation and synthesis of new elements in
the laboratory.

1. Describe how the formation of primordial elements during the early stage of stellar
formation and evolution.
2. Compare and contrast the elements formed by a small star and a massive star.
3. Describe the role being played by gravitational force in the creation of new elements.
4. How did the discovery of atomic number revolutionize the way we view periodic table of
elements as a tool in predicting new elements?
5. Describe how elements in the laboratory are synthesized.
6. Discuss how did the elements formed in the star reached distant places/galaxies?
7. How did the discovery of atomic number paved wave to the synthesis of new elements in
the laboratory?

Post-Test
Directions: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on the blank
provided before the number.

____1. Which of the following are known as primordial elements in the creation of star?

A. A & O B. C & O C. He & H D. Au & Ag

____2. Which of the following element is NOT formed during stellar evolution process?

A. Silicon B. Sulfur C. Iron D. Uranium

____3. Which of the following will be the product if Neon reacts with Helium?

A. Argon B. Arsenic C. Magnesium D. Titanium

____4. How many protons will be immitted during gamma decay?

A.0 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

____5. Which of the following has been used by Mosely to predict the existence of new elements?

A. Atomic # B. Atomic mass C. Symbol D. Density

7
 Reflection
Directions: Based on your understanding about the different lessons presented in this module,
express your critical and creative understanding of each lesson by accomplishing this Reflective
Learning Sheet and answering the questions inside the boxes. Good Luck and Have fun
answering!

What are the positive attitudes and values I

developed from this module?

How will I apply the concepts I have learned in my day to

day living?

What conclusions I have drawn based on the lessons

presented?

What other concepts I want to explore more after

accomplishing this module?

What learnings have I found from this module?

The lessons presented in this module guides me to

ponder on…….

The lessons presented in this module guides me to

ponder on…….