What specific element marks the inevitable end of thermonuclear fusion in a massive star's core?
Answer
Iron (Fe)
The creation of iron marks the critical threshold because fusing elements lighter than iron releases energy, but fusing iron or elements heavier than iron requires an input of energy, halting the star's primary support mechanism.
#Videos
How Stars Die - YouTube
Related Questions
What specific element marks the inevitable end of thermonuclear fusion in a massive star's core?What state of balance is maintained in a stable star by opposing gravity and outward thermal pressure?What energetic requirement defines the process of fusing elements heavier than iron?What process occurs when protons and electrons are forced together under extreme pressure during the final core implosion?What fundamental force finally halts the core's collapse after it reaches nuclear saturation density?What is the violent explosion called that results from the rebounding shock wave after core collapse?What process occurring during the supernova explosion is responsible for forging elements heavier than iron, such as gold and uranium?How does the duration of the final silicon-burning phase compare to the star's main-sequence life?For stars with initial masses roughly between 8 and 25 solar masses, what remnant is typically left behind after core collapse?What is the primary element created by the fusion process powering main-sequence stars like our Sun?What mechanism provides indefinite support for a remnant white dwarf formed from a Sun-like star?