Final answer:
The first element formed in the universe was hydrogen, which made up about 75% of the mass, followed by helium and a small amount of lithium. Heavier elements were created later in stars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first element in the universe was hydrogen. After the Big Bang, the universe was composed predominantly of hydrogen and helium, with about 75% hydrogen and 25% helium by mass. A very small amount of lithium was also present. Elements heavier than these, such as carbon and oxygen, were not formed until later through the process of nuclear fusion inside stars.
Properties of other elements like lithium being an alkali metal (Group 1), argon as a noble gas (Group 18), and chlorine as a halogen (Group 17) are helpful in understanding the periodic table, but the initial formation of elements in the universe was limited to the lightest ones, with hydrogen being the first and most abundant.