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.
Some scientists say that the major building block of the universe is hydrogen because
it's the most plentiful element, but my theory is that the universe is made out of
stupidity, because it is more plentiful than hydrogen.
Frank Zappa
Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu