Is it possible for an alpha particle (helium nucleus) to fuse with an iron nucleus to form a heavier nucleus?
A) No, iron is the heaviest stable nucleus.
B) No, iron is not the heaviest stable nucleus, but the iron nucleus already has a complete set of protons and refuses to accept the constituents of an additional alpha particle.
C) Yes, adding an alpha particle to iron is the next energy-generating reaction after silicon fusion.
D) Yes, but this reaction does not take place spontaneously in stars, because it requires energy rather than producing energy.
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