During the late stages of evolution (e.g. ,oxygen burning)in massive stars,nuclear reactions produce many free neutrons.What very important effect do these neutrons have on the composition of the star?
A) The neutrons,being uncharged,escape from the star,thus carrying away energy from the core of the star and lowering its temperature.
B) The neutrons are captured by atomic nuclei and can produce heavy elements that would not form from nuclear fusion alone.
C) The neutrons are captured by atomic nuclei,causing the nuclei to split by fission reactions into lighter elements that would otherwise be very rare in the universe.
D) The neutrons decay into protons and electrons,thus increasing the amount of hydrogen in the core and extending the life of the star.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Free neutrons can be captured by atomic nuclei, causing them to become heavier and producing elements beyond iron that cannot be formed through nuclear fusion alone. This process is known as neutron capture or the r-process (rapid neutron capture), and it is responsible for the formation of many heavy elements found in the universe.

During the Late Stages of Evolution (E