Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihnet.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ihnet!eklhad From: eklhad@ihnet.UUCP (K. A. Dahlke) Newsgroups: net.astro.expert Subject: Forming The Elements Message-ID: <243@ihnet.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 10:11:19 EDT Article-I.D.: ihnet.243 Posted: Thu Jun 27 10:11:19 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Jun-85 02:09:40 EDT Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 19 < H He C N O Si Fe > A recent scientific American article (May i believe) described the explosion of a super nova. This fascinating article gave a simplified scenario of stellar evolution, burning hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and finally producing iron. Paraphrasing: "Once a central core of iron is produced, reactions cannot continue. Larger nuclei exist, but their formation is not favored. Iron is the lowest energy nucleus." My question is, how did the other elements form; especially those above iron? Are intermediate elements produced by radioactive decay of iron, silicon, etc? Are higher elements produced in very small quantity, due to equilibrium reactions in the stellar core, similar to N2+3h2 <> 2NH3? Gold atoms must have come from somewhere, and I don't believe in a creator. Any help appreciated. -- Is it time to go home yet? Karl Dahlke ihnp4!ihnet!eklhad