Thread: Death of a Star - Question

Once a star converts all of it's elements into iron it goes supernova, so how do elements lighter than iron survive the supernova? I know that the supernova creates elements heavier than iron, but then wouldn't there be nothing but iron and heavier elements? I thought a supernova distributes elements like carbon and oxygen into space?

Lots of answers. Carbon and oxygen mostly come from planetary nebulae as smaller stars blow off their shells on their way to white dwarf. That's why carbon and oxygen are so plentiful.

Type II supernovae are explosions in a junk yard. The core fuses to iron and collapses, but the outer shells have some fuel left. The collapse converts the core to neutrons, which bounce, sending a shock wave out that blows the outer layers away. The pressure of the shock wave creates some heavy elements in the shells, including unstable transuranics that split into lighter elements.

I appreciate your help. Thank you Mr. Caldwell!