What is the fundamental energetic characteristic of fusing Iron within the core of a supermassive star?
Answer
It consumes energy, halting the outward thermal pressure.
The process of nuclear fusion in massive stars builds heavier elements sequentially until the core reaches iron. Elements lighter than iron release energy when fused, which provides the necessary outward pressure to counteract the crushing force of gravity. However, iron sits at an energetic turning point. Fusing iron atoms does not release energy; instead, it requires an input of energy to occur. Once the core becomes dominated by inert iron, the star loses its primary source of energy generation and outward thermal support, meaning the death process begins instantly because gravity can no longer be balanced.
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