Which elements are created through rapid neutron-capture processes in supernovae?
Answer
Gold, silver, and uranium
Elements significantly heavier than iron, which cannot be synthesized through standard stellar fusion pathways, are forged in the extreme conditions of a supernova explosion. The mechanism responsible is rapid neutron-capture, often referred to as the r-process. This process involves the quick absorption of a large number of neutrons by existing nuclei within the collapsing layers or the powerful shockwave of the explosion. Elements like gold, silver, and radioactive materials such as uranium are the direct products of this nucleosynthesis event, getting ejected into the interstellar medium to become components of later celestial objects.
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