Why does the process of elemental fusion via controlled burning stop once a massive star's core turns to iron?
Answer
Iron represents the peak of nuclear binding energy.
Fusing elements lighter than iron releases energy, sustaining the star, but fusing iron atoms together requires an input of energy rather than producing it, leading to core collapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What two elements overwhelmingly constituted the cosmos immediately following the Big Bang?What is the term for the stellar construction project that fundamentally enriches the universe chemically?What is the primary fusion mechanism powering stars like our Sun during their main life stage?Why does the process of elemental fusion via controlled burning stop once a massive star's core turns to iron?Which process is responsible for fusing helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen inside massive stars?What celestial events are primarily responsible for forging elements heavier than iron, such as gold and uranium?In AGB stars nearing the end of their lives, what process gradually builds elements like barium and lead through slow neutron capture?What is considered the leading source for the creation of the very heaviest elements via the rapid neutron capture process?Which essential life component is created in the stable fusion stages up to iron and is needed for transporting oxygen in our blood?In which environment does the CNO cycle become the dominant mechanism for turning hydrogen into helium?