Why didn't elements heavier than helium form in the first minutes of creation?
A)The first generation of stars used them up too quickly to observe them.
B)There was not enough matter in the universe at that time.
C)When He-4 was formed, the expansion cooled the cosmos below 100 million K.
D)The electrons slowed down enough to be captured into orbits by protons.
E)Only type I supernovae can produce iron and heavier elements.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During the first few minutes of the universe, the temperature was extremely high and only allowed for light elements like helium to form. When helium-4 formed, the expansion of the universe cooled the cosmos below the threshold of 100 million K required for nuclear reactions that create heavier elements. The formation of elements heavier than helium requires very high temperatures and densities, which were present in the early universe during the first few minutes after the Big Bang. However, when helium (He-4) was formed, the expansion of the universe rapidly cooled the cosmos below 100 million K, preventing further fusion reactions from occurring and thus preventing the formation of heavier elements.

Why Didn't Elements Heavier Than Helium Form in the First