What is the heaviest element that can be made in the core of a star?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the heaviest element that can be formed in the core of a star during its normal fusion processes.
Option 1: Carbon. While carbon is produced in stars through fusion (e.g., triple-alpha process from helium), it is not the heaviest element formed in the core; stars fuse beyond helium up to heavier nuclei but stop at iron in their hydrostatic core burning.
Option 2: Uranium. Uranium is far heavier and is not formed in the sustained fusion reactions occurring in stellar cores. Its creation requires extremely high-energy environments like supernovae or neutron star mergers, not the stable burning stages inside typical stellar cores.
Option 3: Helium. Helium is one of the first products of stellar fusion (hydrogen burning via the proton-proton chain or CNO cycle), but it is not the heaviest element formed in the core; stars continue fusing heavier elements beyond helium as they evolve, up to iron.
Option 4: Iron. In stellar cores, fusion reactions proceed up to iron (specifically iron-56) because creating elements heavier than iron without additional energy input would absorb energy rather than release it. This makes iron the heaviest element that can be formed by in-core fusion during the normal life of a star. Heavier elements require more violent events (like supernovae) or different processes to form. Therefore, this option correctly identifies the upper limit of in-core fusion in stars.

ASTR-1-45046-F25 Lecture: The Stellar Circle of Life

What is the heaviest element that can be made in the core of a star?

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