OverthrowYourMasters t1_j4fr8sl wrote
Reply to comment by higashidakota in How do we know oxygen, and not another element, is the third most abundant element in the universe? by ChickFleih
how are the odd numbered elements made and why are they so less abundant if hydrogen is the most common? wouldn't adding a hydrogen to an even pair be common? my uneducated hypothesis is that elements are layered inside stars, so they mostly interact at the layers. however, if this were the case, then squared elements would be the most common.
EarthSolar t1_j4gg86d wrote
I believe it’s because adding hydrogen isn’t the main way of nucleosynthesis. Check the alpha process out.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments