Abstract
The peaks in elemental abundance observed in the solar system correspond to magic numbers and increased core stability. Apart from the light elements formed in the Big Bang, the elements are all formed in stars, most of them off the main sequence, when helium and, beyond that, carbon and oxygen are burned up in the star's various layers. Beyond iron, the formation of elements is due to the capture of energetic neutrons either in stars or during the fusion of neutron stars.
