Our planet is formed of elements and the combinations of elements known as compounds. An element is a pure component formed of atoms, which are all of a similar kind. Till now, 116 elements are identified, and of these only 90 occur naturally.
At the time of universe formation, which is, about 14 billion years ago known as Big Bang, the creation of only the lightest elements took place, that is, hydrogen and helium along with minute concentrations of beryllium and lithium. The rest of the 86 elements found in nature were formed in the nuclear reactions, which took place in the stars and in huge stellar explosions called supernovae.