In a high-mass star, the catastrophic halt of energy generation occurs immediately after the core produces what element?
Answer
Iron
High-mass stars evolve rapidly by fusing progressively heavier elements in concentric shells, creating an onion-like structure that builds up towards the center. This entire rapid sequence, spanning from carbon burning to silicon burning, culminates in the formation of an iron core. The fusion of iron is the terminal process because, unlike all lighter elements, fusing iron *consumes* energy rather than releasing it. This consumption instantly eliminates the thermal pressure needed to counteract gravity, leading to catastrophic failure and the rapid implosion that triggers the supernova explosion.
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