Why did the Big Bang not produce heavier elements?
A)By the time helium could survive, the temperature had become too low for heavier elements to form.
B)They did, but radioactive decay caused these elements to disappear again.
C)Too many high energy photons were present during the era of nucleosynthesis for heavy elements to form.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By the time helium could survive, the temperature had become too low for heavier elements to form. The Big Bang produced only helium, hydrogen, and a small amount of lithium because the heavier elements require higher temperatures and pressures to form. As the universe expanded and cooled, the temperature became too low for heavier elements to form.

Why Did the Big Bang Not Produce Heavier Elements