1. Some definitions:
Quarks: Building blocks of protons and neutrons
Atom: Neutral charged assemblage of protons,
neutrons, electrons
Electron: Negatively charged sub-atomic particles
that orbits around the atomic nucleus
Atomic Nucleus: Present in the center of an atom
consisting of proton and neutrons
Element: A type of matter characterized by the
number of protons in the atomic nucleus
Isotope: A specific form of an element with a
precise number of neutrons.
Stable Isotope: An isotope whose atomic nucleus is
stable
Unstable Isotope: An isotope with an unstable nucleus
which will undergo the process of
radiometric decay.

2. The Big Bang: The Synthesis of Building Blocks of the Universe
Astrophysicists tell us:
~ 13.8 (?) billion years ago (Ga) all matter and energy
existed as a single "spark"
Expansion of everything is commonly referred to as The Big Bang
In the beginning the universe had an infinite temperature
- Since the Bang Bang the universe has
EXPANDED AND COOLED
Let us look at the earliest history of the universe

3. THE UNIVERSE’S HISTORY1 2 3 4

4. QUARK SOUP (AT 10-32 seconds after the Big Bang)
- Matter separates from energy
- Matter consists of tiny sub-atomic particles known as
quarks
2. “BIG FREEZE OUT” AT 1 to 100 seconds after the Big Bang
- Temperature cooled enough to allow quarks to begin
to come together
- Form more familiar particles
- PROTON (HAS A +1 CHARGE)
- NEUTRON (HAS 0 CHARGE)
- Protons and neutrons themselves can come together
to form the atomic nuclei of elements
- At this time the universe consisted mainly of the following
atomic nuclei of the following elements

5. Hydrogen (H) 75%
Helium (He) 25%
Everything Else <1%

6. 3. PARTIING COMPANY (AT 300,000 years after the Big Bang)
- Besides protons and neutrons what else is present in an
atom?
- Electrons (HAS A -1 CHARGE)
- Remember that an atom has a nucleus that consists of
protons and neutrons
- and electrons that orbit around this nucleus in a
shell
Basically, at this time the universe had cooled enough to allow
electrons to enter into orbit around the nucleus of an atom.

7. DIGRESSION:
There are different isotopes of Hydrogen
Protons Neutrons Stability
1H Stable
2H Stable
3H Instable
Note that hydrogen always has one proton but its different
Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons.

8. However, today the universe consists of more elements than just
H and He that form a gigantic gas ball!
4. FIRST GALAXIES (AT 100,000,000 years after the Big Bang(
- Stars and galaxies begin to form
Inside all stars nuclear processes fuse atomic nuclei together
- This process is nuclear fusion
- RESULT: Larger elements up to number 26 (iron)
are formed inside these stars

9. Iron
AND YES YOU NEED TO LEARN ALL THE OTHER
ELEMENTS LISTED ABOVE

10. But, what about the larger elements beyond iron (number 26)
- Naturally occurring elements go up to number 92
(Uranium)
Need processes much more violent then the typical nuclear
fusion that occurs within a star.
Large stars (more massive than 3 times the sun) have a tendency
of blowing up at the end of their lives!
- Such an explosion is called a SUPERNOVA
- Note that a single supernova can out shine the light
output of all of these other stars put together!
- All the larger elements beyond iron have been made
during these cosmic explosions.

11. RINGS OF MATERIAL THROWN OUT BY A SUPERNOVA