Introduction

1. Introduction Gail Rohrbach What are the Elements and Where do they come from? Elements 2002 Workshop

2. What is an Element? element (n) - 1.A fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity. 2. [elements] The basic assumptions or principles of a subject. 3. Mathematics a. A member of a set. b. A point, line, or plane. c. A part of a geometric configuration, such as an angle in a triangle ... 4. Chemistry & Physics any of more than 100 fundamental substances that consist of atoms of only one kind and that singly or in combination constitute all matter.5. One of four substances, earth, air, fire, or water, formerly regarded as a fundamental constituent of the universe. 6. Electricity The resistance wire in an electrical appliance such as a heater or an oven. 7. [elements] The forces that constitute the weather, especially severe or inclement weather: “outside paint that had been damaged by the elements.” 8. An environment naturally suited to or associated with an individual: “The business world is her element.” … 11. [elements] The bread and wine of the Eucharist. Elements 2002 Workshop

3. What is an Element? Sun: Air and Fire Cloud: Water and Air Elements 2002 Workshop

4. What is an Element? What’s the difference between an element and an atom? (if both are fundamental building blocks of matter…?) Elements 2002 Workshop

5. What is an Element? atom: a tiny, chemically indivisible particle made up of protons, electrons, and sometimes neutrons. An atom is identified by the number of protons in its nucleus, referred to as its “atomic number.” element: a substance composed solely of atoms with the same atomic number (i.e. atoms having an identical number of protons in each nucleus). Elements 2002 Workshop

6. What is an Element? Periodic Table of the Elements Sample Elements 2002 Workshop

7. What is an Element? All the normal matter in the Universe is made up of combinations of these elements: Everything we see around us is just ~100 different kinds of atoms (the elements), combined in various ways. So, we’re back to the Ancient Greeks: All matter is made up of a “few” fundamental substances - Elements 2002 Workshop

8. Where do the Elements Come From? • Why do we have only these elements? Why aren’t there more? (Why aren’t there an infinite number?) • Do all the elements exist in equal quantities? If not, why not? • How can we tell? Elements 2002 Workshop

9. Where do the Elements Come From? • How and when did the elements come to exist? • Why do we have only these elements? Why aren’t there more? Why aren’t there an infinite number? • Do all the elements exist in equal quantities? If not, why not? • How can we tell? We’ll spend the rest of this workshop exploring these questions Elements 2002 Workshop

10. Where did the Elements come from? really, it’smatter-energy (E = mc2) Sneak Preview: • All the matter that exists formed at once, a very long time ago - shortly after The Big Bang • Since then, matter has combined and recombined - making different types of atoms - but the total amount of matter hasn’t changed: no matter is created or destroyed “And he said this thing was so small -- this part of me was so small it couldn’t be seen -- but it was there from the beginning of the world.” -- Tillie, from “The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds” Elements 2002 Workshop