Elements come from stars. During a stars life cycle, it creates elements by combining hydrogen atoms together using nuclear fusion. Then, when a star dies in a supernova, the force of the explosion fuses elements together, creating the heavy elements we find on earth today. The solar system formed out of the debris of a supernova, so thats why the earth contains heavy elements. Also, a lot of the material you see on earth today comes from earthly processes. But the elements present come from long dead stars.
For example, the calcium in your bones was formed in a supernova explosion. pretty sweet, isnt it?
2007-03-26 08:32:35
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answer #1
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answered by sprocket9727 3
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The earth contains many different elements thanks to the death of other stars. After the big bang the universe was a very hot soup of radiation. As it cooled electrons, proton, and neutrons formed. These building blocks came together as the lightest elements Hydrogen, helium, and lithium. These "clouds" of gas are attracted by their own gravity until the elements are so compressed they begin a fusion reaction. As a star ages it will begin to fuse different elements into different elements in its fusion core until it gets to iron which can not be fused further by the star. When a star of a certain size reaches the end of its life cycle (mostly iron) it can supernova sending the assorted elements out into the galaxy. Poetically enough we are all made of star dust as the heavier elements would not be in existence if not for stars.
2007-03-26 15:48:10
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answer #2
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answered by williammsmith2001 1
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The elements heavier than H and He are generated in dying stars (i.e., supernovas). Earth contains these metals and other heavy elements because there was enough of that material present in our solar nebula (from previous supernovae in our galactic neighborhood) and at a distance of about 150,000,000 km from the proto-sun, the conditions were right for this stuff to condense and coalesce to form a rocky planet: Earth.
2007-03-26 15:36:35
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answer #3
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answered by asgspifs 7
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The creation of heavier metals(and non-metals) is due to the explosion of supernovae where red giant stars reach tremendous energy levels as to fuse lighter elements into heavier elements. This has nothing to do with the Big Bang, which is the explanation of the first few moments of the creation of the universe.
2007-03-26 15:37:48
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answer #4
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answered by Amphibolite 7
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the earth has been hit by many things from space.
comets, meteors, etc
all of these from different sources all that have continued to lodge into the earth
over time these solidify to our earth and we have "diff minerals and ores"
2007-03-26 16:06:58
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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