Why did Big Bang nucleosynthesis only produce elements less massive than beryllium?
A) The laws of physics do not allow the formation of massive nuclei outside stars.
B) The universe was never hot enough for nucleosynthesis by fusion before stars formed.
C) There was no black hole to provide sufficient energy for advanced nucleosynthesis.
D) The universe expanded and cooled rapidly.
E) More massive elements did form, but they decayed very rapidly into lighter ones.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The universe expanded and cooled rapidly, which limited the time available for nucleosynthesis to occur, allowing only lighter elements like hydrogen, helium, and small amounts of lithium and beryllium to form.

Why Did Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Only Produce Elements Less Massive