What role do low-mass stars play in the chemical enrichment cycle compared to massive stars regarding elements up to iron?

Answer

They are the primary factories distributing early elements like carbon and oxygen steadily

Low-mass stars continuously enrich the interstellar medium with lighter elements like carbon and oxygen over billions of years, whereas massive stars are required to synthesize elements all the way up to iron before collapsing.

What role do low-mass stars play in the chemical enrichment cycle compared to massive stars regarding elements up to iron?

#Videos

Low Mass Stars: Crash Course Astronomy #29 - YouTube

ElementstarmassFusion