Abstract

ESCALANTE, Sigfrido  and  GASQUE, Laura. The origin of chemical elements and the nucleosynthesis mechanisms. Educ. quím [online]. 2012, vol.23, n.1, pp.62-68. ISSN 0187-893X.

The proposed mechanisms about the origin of the chemical elements and the main experimental facts that support them are presented here. All those processes that eventually gave new atomic nuclei are intimately related to the history of the Universe itself. Accordingly with the Big Bang theory, the most widely accepted theory about the origin of the Universe three different stages of formation of atomic nuclei can be distinguished. One of these occurred in the early Universe, the other inside stars and the last one in the interstellar space. There are many questions for which the answer is still pending. However the main mechanisms of nuclear synthesis that have been proposed have sound basis in theoretical concepts and in many experimental facts and observations as well. All of this allows acceptable explanations about the origin and relative abundances of the chemical elements y the Universe nowadays.

Keywords : nucleosynthesis; nuclear fusion; stars; origin of the elements.

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