I get that it creates heavier atoms by fusing lighter ones, and it happens during a supernova. But, what I don’t get is the process of it. And the teacher didn’t help either as they literally just read the module verbatim.
Thanks!
In: Chemistry
During a supernova, a whole lot of neutrons are created. Imagine an iron atom inside the exploding star. All these neutrons are flying by, and some have a chance of sticking to the iron atom. By the time the supernova is over, the iron atom has been covered in a whole lot of extra neutrons. That iron atom is now a very unstable isotope, and in the aftermath of the supernova it will radioactively decay. That means the extra neutrons turn into protons, and that’s exactly how you make heavier elements. For every neutron that turns into a proton, you go one element heavier.
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