What elements are synthesized during the rapid nucleosynthesis phase occurring in a spectacular supernova explosion?

Elements heavier than iron, such as gold and uranium.

Stellar nucleosynthesis accounts for nearly all elements in the universe heavier than hydrogen and helium. While fusion in massive stars creates elements up to iron in their cores before collapse, the extreme conditions unleashed during a supernova explosion are necessary to forge anything heavier. The immense energy flux and neutron density provided by the supernova shockwave drive rapid nuclear reactions that allow nuclei to quickly capture many neutrons before they can decay. This rapid process creates elements significantly heavier than iron, including naturally occurring heavy metals like gold, silver, and radioactive elements such as uranium, scattering these newly forged materials across the galaxy for future star and planet formation.