Question

Which is the heaviest element produced in large stars by nuclear fusion near the end of their life cycle?

Answer 1

The heaviest element produced in large stars near the end of their life cycle through nuclear fusion is iron (Fe). Fusion begins in the core of a star with hydrogen converting to helium, and as the core's hydrogen supply depletes, helium fuses to form heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, and eventually silicon. When silicon fuses, it can create iron through a process called silicon burning. However, iron is the end point of nuclear fusion in large stars because it has the highest binding energy per nucleon. Any further fusion of iron or heavier elements would require more energy than it would produce, leading to the star's eventual collapse or explosion as a supernova.