What is the heaviest element directly produced by nuclear fusion in the core of high-mass stars?Group of answer choicesHeliumIronSiliconNickelCarbonGold

To identify the heaviest element directly produced by nuclear fusion in the core of high-mass stars, we can analyze the fusion processes that occur during the stellar lifecycle.

Overview of Stellar Nucleosynthesis

1. Hydrogen Burning: In the cores of stars, hydrogen is fused into helium.
2. Helium Burning: Helium eventually fuses into heavier elements, primarily carbon and oxygen.
3. Carbon and Oxygen Burning: As the core temperature increases, carbon fusion can produce neon and magnesium, and oxygen fusion can yield silicon.
4. Silicon Burning: At even higher temperatures, silicon can fuse into heavier elements, leading up to iron.

Key Point

• The fusion processes in high-mass stars culminate with the production of iron. Iron (Fe) is the heaviest element that can be produced through fusion because any fusion reaction involving iron does not yield energy due to its position on the binding energy curve.

Conclusion

Among the choices given (Helium, Iron, Silicon, Nickel, Carbon, Gold), the heaviest element directly produced by nuclear fusion in the core of high-mass stars is Iron.

Final Answer

Iron