What extreme event is necessary to create elements heavier than Iron, such as gold and uranium?
Answer
A Type II supernova explosion
Because fusion reactions involving iron consume energy rather than release it, the standard, gradual core burning processes that build elements up to iron cannot proceed further up the periodic table. The creation of elements heavier than iron, such as gold, lead, and uranium, requires conditions far exceeding those available in the pre-collapse supergiant core. These heavier elements are forged during the star's violent demise, specifically during the shockwave propagation following the core collapse, which characterizes a Type II supernova. Only the extreme energy densities and high flux of neutrons released during this explosion can overcome the energetic hurdles required to synthesize these massive nuclei.
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