Explaining the Ten Lightest Chemical Elements

From hydrogen to neon.

Photo by Ryan Schroeder on Unsplash

British spelling.

You may think that the images throughout my story are unrelated to the topic, but remember, all physical things are made of atoms.

Here is a short explanation of the ten lightest atoms, starting with hydrogen and ending with neon. Enjoy.

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

1/10

I’m a Hydrogen Atom (H) With Atomic Number 1

By far, I am the most abundant chemical element in the universe.

I am the oldest, lightest, and most abundant element in the universe, making up 74% of its mass.

I did not exist in the early universe because the conditions were too hot, but around 380,000 years after the universe’s birth, the cooler conditions enabled me to become a true atom.

My nucleus is just one proton, and one spinning electron circles my nucleus. That’s the reason I am the lightest of the 118 known elements.

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process by which atoms are created within stars, intense heat in the core of stars triggers nuclear fusion starting the production of heavier atoms.

I intend to describe every known atom in easy-to-understand terms. Enjoy.

Photo by Danilo Batista on Unsplash

2/10

I’m a Helium Atom (He) With Atomic Number 2

I am the second most abundant chemical element in the universe.

Two electrons circle my nucleus, composed of two protons and two neutrons.

At this time, I am being created in the fiery cores of stars.

My age is slightly less than the most abundant chemical element, hydrogen, but I still make up 25% of all the mass in the universe.

Helium is known best for filling party balloons, but it has many other important uses…