How were hydrogen and helium formed in the Big Bang?
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How were hydrogen and helium formed in the Big Bang?
Within about 3 minutes after the Big Bang, conditions cooled enough for these protons and neutrons to form hydrogen nuclei. Some of these nuclei combined to form helium as well, though in much smaller quantities (just a few percent).
How was lithium formed in the Big Bang?
While the big bang created a small amount of lithium in the initial formation of the universe, the majority of lithium gets manufactured in the nuclear reactions that power the nova explosions. These exploding stars become brighter than a galaxy and can be discovered at very large distances in the universe.
How was hydrogen formed?
Hydrogen is easily the most abundant element in the universe. Most hydrogen is produced by heating natural gas with steam to form syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). The syngas is separated to give hydrogen. Hydrogen can also be produced by the electrolysis of water.
When was lithium formed?
1817
Lithium is rare in the Universe, although it was one of the three elements, along with hydrogen and helium, to be created in the Big Bang. The element was discovered on Earth in 1817 by Johan August Arfvedson (1792-1841) in Stockholm when he investigated petalite, one of the first lithium minerals to be discovered.
What does lithium and helium make?
LiHe
LiHe is a compound of helium and lithium. The substance is a cold low-density gas made of Van der Waals molecules, each composed of a helium atom and lithium atom bound by van der Waals force.
How was helium formed?
The helium is formed during the natural radioactive decay of elements such as uranium and thorium. These heavy elements were formed before the earth but they are not stable and very slowly, they decay. One mode of decay for uranium is to emit an alpha-particle.
How is lithium produced?
Most lithium is currently produced in Chile, from brines that yield lithium carbonate when treated with sodium carbonate. The metal is produced by the electrolysis of molten lithium chloride and potassium chloride.