How Did Chemistry Come Into Being?

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Sorin Sarkar asks, at what point after the Big Bang, can we say chemistry came into existence from the physics of the early universe? Kate Kinsman: Well, in the very beginning, we really only had two elements. And so once the universe finally cools down, that's when we can start actually forming these bonds between each other because the atoms can now hang on to their electrons.

How is chemistry different in space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Matt Kirshen explore cosmic chemistry, the periodic table, and more with Kate Biberdorf aka Kate the Chemist. Is the periodic table complete?

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-astrochemistry-with-kate-the-chemist/

Thanks to our Patrons Matt Jones, Robby League, Jason D. Belcher, Timothé Payette, and Scott Hosier for supporting us this week.

Photo Credit: S535b, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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