Space
How Stars Produce Elements
To explain how stars make new elements and how these elements are spread into space.
What you will learn
How stars make new elements by nuclear fusion
Why stars can make elements heavier than hydrogen
How massive stars produce heavier elements
How supernovae spread elements into space
Why the elements in planets came from earlier stars
Explanation
Fusion in stars builds heavier nuclei from lighter nuclei and releases energy. Successive fusion stages in massive stars form elements up to iron in the GCSE model; formation of heavier elements is associated with supernova processes. Supernovae scatter elements into space, contributing material for later stars, planets and living systems. Example: State the heaviest element reached by ordinary energy-releasing stellar fusion in the GCSE model. Iron. Use clear labels. Distinguish the quantities.