Which elements, heavier than iron, are synthesized in the neutron-rich environment of a supernova explosion?
Answer
Gold and uranium
While fusion within the star's lifetime produces elements up to iron, the synthesis of elements heavier than iron requires extreme, neutron-rich conditions that are only achieved during the violent moments of a core-collapse supernova explosion. The chaotic environment created by the exploding stellar envelope and the intense neutrino flux facilitates rapid neutron capture processes. This mechanism is responsible for forging some of the heaviest elements found in the universe, specifically including precious metals like gold and massive radioactive elements such as uranium, seeding the cosmos with the building blocks for future planetary systems.
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