What element forms the critical stopping point in fusion for high-mass stars?
Answer
Iron
In stars significantly more massive than the Sun, core temperatures become high enough to facilitate fusion chains involving elements much heavier than helium, creating an internal structure resembling an onion shell, progressing through Neon, Oxygen, and Silicon. The process halts abruptly upon the formation of an iron core. Fusing iron nuclei is fundamentally different from previous stages because it consumes energy rather than releasing it. Once the core is composed primarily of iron, the thermal pressure supporting the star against gravity vanishes instantly, leading to catastrophic and rapid core collapse.
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