Page 38 - Die Kette der Wunder
P. 38
DIE KETTE DER WUNDER
Nuclear reactions that form car-
bon atoms take place in the
heart of giant stars.
1
In order for a carbon atom to form, first a
pair of helium atoms with two protons each
come together to form a four-proton beryl-
lium atom.
2
Following that, the beryllium atom joins
with a third helium atom, forming a six-
proton atom of carbon.
The element of carbon,
which occurs naturally on The miraculous
Earth in the form of coal or thing, however, is
diamond, actually formed in how the beryllium
the nuclei of giant stars. As atom, which nor-
a result of these stars ex- mally decomposes
ploding as novas, masses of in as little as
carbon and other elements 0.000000000000001
were hurled into space, sub- of a second, joins with another helium atom to
sequently reaching other form a carbon atom before such decomposi-
stars and planets, of which tion takes place. (3) Scientists agree that this
our Earth is one. phenomenon is most extraordinary.
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