Listen&Learn: How Elements Are Made

Learn where the chemicals in the universe come from

Pre-listening vocabulary

• element: one of the basic substances found on the periodic table
• abundant: existing in large amounts
• core: the centre of a planet or star
• fuse: to create something new by joining multiple things together
• collapse: to violently fall inward
• dense: containing a lot of material in a very small area
• remnant: a leftover piece of something that has been destroyed

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

The simplest chemical elements in the , hydrogen and helium, originally formed during the Big Bang. These are the most abundant elements out there. The cores of stars can make more helium through a process called nuclear fusion, where enough energy forces the centres of atoms together to make more atoms. Other light elements, like oxygen and carbon, also originate from this process. Iron is the heaviest element that a star can fuse. This usually happens near the very end of the star’s life. There are two ways that elements are made. The first is when stars, especially massive stars, collapse and die. The second is in a collision between two extremely dense star remnants, called neutron stars. These events create enough to fuse elements like lead and .

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The most abundant elements in the universe are
   a. hydrogen and helium
   b. hydrogen and carbon
   c. helium and oxygen
   
2. During its life, a star can’t use nuclear fusion to create
   a. helium
   b. iron
   c. gold
   
3. Heavy elements can be made in a collision between two
   a. planets
   b. comets
   c. neutron stars

Discussion/essay questions

1. Scientists are beginning to experiment with nuclear fusion as a possible power source. Current nuclear power plants use a process called nuclear fission, which does not produce as much energy. What do you think about nuclear power? Do you think it will help or harm the environment? Why?

Transcript

The simplest chemical elements in the universe, hydrogen and helium, originally formed during the Big Bang. These are the most abundant elements out there. The cores of stars can make more helium through a process called nuclear fusion, where enough energy forces the centres of atoms together to make more complex atoms. Other light elements, like oxygen and carbon, also originate from this process. Iron is the heaviest element that a star can fuse. This usually happens near the very end of the star’s life. There are two ways that heavier elements are made. The first is when stars, especially massive stars, collapse and die. The second is in a collision between two extremely dense star remnants, called neutron stars. These events create enough energy to fuse elements like lead and gold.

Answers to comprehension questions

1a 2c 3c