Daniel B. Peña Memorial College Foundation, Inc.

Ziga Avenue, San Juan, Tabaco City

S.Y. 2024-2025

Physical Science Quarter 1 – Module 1: Exploring the Formation of Elements During Stellar Formation and
Evolution
The module consists of one lesson only:
• Lesson 1 – Formation of Elements During Stellar Formation and Evolution
After going through this module, you are expected 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 the discovery of atomic number which led to the synthesis of new elements in
the laboratory.

What’s In
Stellar Word Puzzle Directions: Encircle and write down the words which are related to star and element
formation. In addition, expand your vocabulary by finding the meaning of the encircled words and relate them
to your prior knowledge.

What is It
Evolution of Stars and the Formation of Heavier Elements
Star formation theory states that stars are formed when a dense region of molecular cloud collapses.
During this process, fragments of clouds contract and form a stellar core known as protostar. The contraction
and gravitational force of the protostar result in an increase in temperature which triggers nuclear reaction within
the star upon reaching 10 million Kelvin. Throughout the reaction, neutrinos and positrons are released, slowing
down the reaction. Once the contraction stops and the protostar attains its gravitational equilibrium, a main
sequence star will be formed.
 In the core of a main sequence star, hydrogen fuses with helium through proton-proton chain.In addition,
the gravitational force of a main sequence star forces hydrogen and helium to fuse resulting to burning 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 red giant. On the other hand, since
massive stars possess enough energy, mass, temperature, and pressure, the star will undergo a series of stages
where heavier elements are fused around the shell of the core whereas carbon will be formed through helium
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 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
to the formation of white dwarf.
The first 3 minutes of Big Bang focused primarily on the expansion and cooling of universe so as to the
synthesis of the first three elements. On the other hand, the second cosmological event is Stellar nucleosynthesis,
a process in which heavier elements such as Beryllium (4Be) and Iron (26Fe) were formed by combining protons
and neutrons from the nuclei of a lighter elements.
Moreover, under the process of stellar nucleosynthesis, 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 rays under extreme gravitational force
and temperature. Oxygen as the product of the initial reaction then reacts with Helium to form Neon and gamma
rays ( 4 2He + 168O 2010Ne + 00γ). The third reaction involves carbon reacting with another Carbon forming
Magnesium and gamma ray ( 126C + 126C 2412Mg + 00γ). On the other hand, Oxygen to Oxygen fusion will
create Silicon, alpha particle (Helium) and gamma rays as product. ( 168O + 168O 2814Si + 4 2He + 00γ). The
process will continue to form heavier elements from lighter ones, but not heavier than Iron with atomic mass of
26. Lastly, supernova happens when the core can no longer produce the needed energy to resist gravitational
force, leading to its explosion and release of large amounts of energy.
Pieces of Evidence
One remarkable evidence to support stellar nucleosynthesis and star formation theory is the discovery of
interstellar dusts and gasses which justifies the stages of stellar formation which are 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 a concurrent with stellar formation and evolution.
Atomic Number and Synthesis of New Elements
Throughout history, scientist have been working on a periodic organization of 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 would help them discover new elements. Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Mosely an
English chemist arranged the elements in the periodic table by using atomic number as basis. This 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: a particle with two protons and two neutrons is emitted resulting to a lighter new
element. 23892 U 23490Th + 4 2 He
BetaEmission:a neutron becomes a proton, and an electron will be ejected resulting to a new element with
the same mass. 13153 I 13154Xe + 0 -1 e
Gamma Emission: gamma ray will be emitted when a radioactive nuclide leaves a nucleus in an excited
state. 13756Ba 13756Ba + γ-photon.
 Activity 1 Birth from the Stars
Directions: Identify the elements formed during the following stages of star formation and evolution.

What I Have Learned

1. Gamma Ray is electromagnetic radiation with a relatively short wavelength emitted during gamma
decay and other reactions.
2. Radio Active Nuclei refers to an unstable nucleus that spontaneously emits particles and energy
throughout the radioactive decay process.
3. Supernova is a star that blows apart and releases a large amount of energy.
4. Star formation theory proposes that stars were formed due to the collapsing of a dense region of
molecular clouds.
5. Stellar nucleosynthesis refers to the process by which elements are formed within the star during star
formation and evolution.

What I Can Do
Directions: Based on your understanding of this module, analyze and answer the following questions
regarding element formation during star formation and synthesis of new elements in the laboratory.
1. Describe 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. Discuss the pieces of evidence used by scientists to explain the formation of heavier elements during stellar
formation and evolution.
5. How did the discovery of atomic number revolutionize how we view the periodic table of elements as a tool in
predicting new elements?
6. Describe how elements in the laboratory are synthesized.
7. Discuss how the elements formed in the star reached distant places/galaxies?
8. How did the discovery of atomic number pave the way to the synthesis of new elements in the laboratory?

PREPARED BY:

JANETTE D. BERAÑA
Subject Teacher