Chapter 34, Problem 15TE

A helium balloon here on Earth pops, releasing direct remnants of the Big Bang. True or false? Explain.

To determine

Whether helium balloon here on Earth pops, releasing direct remnants of the Big Bang.

Answer to Problem 15TE

This statement is false, helium which pops out of the balloon on Earth is an indirect remnant of Big Bang rather produced from the radioactive decay of heavy elements.

Explanation of Solution

Helium is a complex matter and it contains two protons as well as two neutrons in the nucleus. The helium present on Earth is produced from the radioactive decay of heavy elements. The nucleus of radium, whose atomic number is $88$, breaks into helium nucleus and a daughter nucleus of radon that has atomic number $86$. The equation is shown below.

$\text{Ra}\to {\text{Rn+He}}^{2+}$

Rather the helium present in the universe is the remnant of the Big Bang. Big Bang created many other elements apart from helium.

Conclusion:

Therefore, this statement is false, helium which pops out of the balloon on Earth is an indirect remnant of Big Bang rather produced from the radioactive decay of heavy elements.