Eli5: Is it possible that there are elements on other planets, we don’t have on earth and haven’t discover yet?

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Eli5: Is it possible that there are elements on other planets, we don’t have on earth and haven’t discover yet?

In: Chemistry

12 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Its unlikely that we will find new elements on other planets.

All Matter is made of the same basic ingredients, protons neutrons and electrons. There are only so many configurations of x protons, y neutrons and z electrons which produce viable atoms. 

We can model those atoms out and make some guesses about their properties, and we also know that there is an upper limit of how heavy an atom can get. All possible configurations have already either been made or atleast been predicted by models.

To truly find a new element we would need to find a new basic ingredient that could be used to make atoms. So far our math predicts there isnt one.

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