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Posted by on Nov 10, 2015 in TellMeWhy |

What Is the Most Abundant Element in the Universe in Terms of Mass?

What Is the Most Abundant Element in the Universe in Terms of Mass?

What Is the Most Abundant Element in the Universe in Terms of Mass? The major building block of the universe is hydrogen because it’s the most plentiful element. Hydrogen is more plentiful than any other element, making up about 3/4 the mass of the universe.

Helium is second, making up almost all of the remaining 25%. Oxygen is a distant third.

On earth, oxygen is the most common element, making up about 47% of the earth’s mass. Silicon is second, making up 28%, followed by aluminum (8%), iron (5%), magnesium (2%), calcium (4%), sodium (3%), and potassium (3%).

All of the remaining elements together make up less than 1% of the earth’s mass.

Content for this question contributed by Jill Meyer, resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA