What elements act as catalysts in the CNO fusion cycle?

Answer

Carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen

The CNO cycle, the primary fusion mechanism operating in the cores of stars significantly more massive than the Sun, relies on the presence of specific heavier elements to mediate the fusion of hydrogen into helium. These elements—carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen—do not represent the net fuel consumed; instead, they function as catalysts throughout the reaction sequence. They participate in the cyclical interactions, temporarily incorporating hydrogen nuclei before being reformed at the end of the cycle, ready to facilitate further hydrogen fusion. This catalytic role allows the cycle to proceed efficiently at the much higher temperatures characteristic of these massive stellar cores, distinguishing it fundamentally from the proton-proton chain.

What elements act as catalysts in the CNO fusion cycle?

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