Why is Helium so difficult to synthesize?
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Helium is a chemical element.
Chemical elements appear on the periodic table.
A chemical element is a substance that can not be broken down into other substances. (In most cases)
Chemical elements are made from a combination of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Chemical elements are made by the process of nuclear fusion. This involves squashing protons and neutrons together really hard to they stick together and form an element.
We know that elements up until iron are made in stars like our sun. Our sun uses hydrogen as a fuel source. It squashes together hydrogen atoms to produce energy, and, as a result, helium is made.
Helium is difficult to synthesise because we can not replicate the conditions inside the sun in a controlled way. Other ways we make Helium are by a thermonuclear explosion.
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