What is the primary difference in the ultimate fate of stellar material enrichment between a Red Giant and a Supernova?

Answer

Supernovae scatter elements heavier than iron; Red Giants scatter lighter elements gently.

The two scenarios offer vastly different contributions to galactic chemical enrichment. Red giants undergo internal processes, including 'dredge-up' events, that cycle elements like carbon to the surface before they are ejected gently into space via a planetary nebula, enriching the interstellar medium slowly. In stark contrast, the extreme conditions during a core-collapse supernova drive nucleosynthesis past iron, creating a much richer cocktail of heavy elements. These newly forged, heavy elements are then scattered across vast interstellar distances at immense velocities, making supernovae the principal, explosive mechanism responsible for distributing the heaviest components necessary for rocky planets and life.

What is the primary difference in the ultimate fate of stellar material enrichment between a Red Giant and a Supernova?

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astronomystarstellar evolutionsupernovared giant