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Nuclear Fusion Processes, those that form new elements, require both high temperatures and pressures. These are only found at or near the center of the star. Hydrogen fusion is the easiest (excepting deuterium but that's a bit too detailed for here) and takes place in the smallest of stars. (Brown Dwarves don't count as no fusion is going on there). For successively heavier fusion reactions creating heavier elements higher temperatures and pressures are required and therefore take place nearer the center of the star within the sphere of hydrogen fusion. The very largest star therefore have an onion like structure where more and more internal layer are forming heavier and heavier elements. The heaviest element that can be formed by energy producing reactions is Iron. After that the formation of even heavier elements absorbs energy. This is why all the elements above Iron are thought to form in Super-novas reactions where there is incredible temperatures and pressures and no worry that energy absorbing reactions are going to shut things down.

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Q: Why do heavier elements form at the centre of the sun?
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How are the elements carbon nitrogen and oxygen produced in stars like the sun?

These fusion (carbon , nitrogen , and oxygen) reactions form nuclei of sightly heavier elements.


Why can elements be produced in the sun but not in the earth atmosphere?

Over time, the fusion reactions can form as the reactions that form nuclei of slightly heavier elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Thank you = )


What percent of the sun is water?

None. The sun is made of pure elements, mostly hydrogen, which fuse together, creating energy in the form of heat and light. When the hydrogen has fused into helium, the helium fuses into the heavier elements. Eventually, a couple billion years in the future, the sun will be made almost entirely of iron, at which point the fusion will cease and the sun will DIE. But you won't be around to see it. At no point does water form without it being immediately consumed and fused into heavier elements.


What are some characteristics of stars that might account for the fact that some have more complex elements in their spectra?

Older age might account for it. As a star ages, it uses up the simplest elements (hydrogen . . . helium . . .) then starts fusing heavier and heavier elements. Our Sun will get to the point of fusing iron, which is pretty heavy, but the truly large stars out there will fuse elements much heavier than Iron. These heavier and heavier elements may account for some stars having more complex elements in their spectra.


What forms when the sun fuses hydrogen?

It forms helium. After it runs out of hydrogen, it'll form carbon. As I recall, the sun begins to die at the carbon stage because it's too small to fuse heavier elements.

Related questions

What are five objects that form the sun?

The sun is formed of hydrogen and helium, and a small amount of heavier elements. All of it is in the form of gas or plasma.


How are the elements carbon nitrogen and oxygen produced in stars like the sun?

These fusion (carbon , nitrogen , and oxygen) reactions form nuclei of sightly heavier elements.


Why does your sun have 2 percent heavier elements and from where do they come?

I think it's our Sun which gets heavier elements from fusion of hydrogen and other light elements.Edit: Our Sun does create helium from hydrogen by fusion, but that's all. The reason it has heavier elements is that these come from the nebula that formed the Sun. The heavier elements are thought to have come from stars that exploded as "supernovas", a long time ago.


Why can elements be produced in the sun but not in Earth's atmosphere?

Over time, the fusion reactions can form as the reactions that form nuclei of slightly heavier elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Thank you = )


Why can elements be produced in the sun but not in the earth's atmosphere?

Over time, the fusion reactions can form as the reactions that form nuclei of slightly heavier elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Thank you = )


Why elements be produced in the sun but not in the earth's atmosphere?

Over time, the fusion reactions can form as the reactions that form nuclei of slightly heavier elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Thank you = )


Why can elements be produced in the sun but not in the earth atmosphere?

Over time, the fusion reactions can form as the reactions that form nuclei of slightly heavier elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Thank you = )


Why can the Sun not produce heavier elements beyond carbon and oxygen?

The sun does not have enough mass or a hot enough core to fuse heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen.


What percent of the sun is water?

None. The sun is made of pure elements, mostly hydrogen, which fuse together, creating energy in the form of heat and light. When the hydrogen has fused into helium, the helium fuses into the heavier elements. Eventually, a couple billion years in the future, the sun will be made almost entirely of iron, at which point the fusion will cease and the sun will DIE. But you won't be around to see it. At no point does water form without it being immediately consumed and fused into heavier elements.


How does stars light up?

Inside stars atoms are fused together to form heavier elements in a process called nuclear fusion. Our very own Sun is our closest star. Our Sun fuses hydrogen atoms together to form helium. Our Sun will eventually produce heavier elements when it reaches a certain age, and will in fact create even heavier elements as it dies! This process of fusion releases energy in the form of heat and light. The light travels from the star to your eye and you can see it. Interestingly, because light takes time to travel this distance, when you look at stars you are actually seeing them as they were in the past.


Is stars the size of the sun can produce elements heavier than oxygen true or false?

True. Our Sun will eventually produce elements as heavy as iron.


What forms when the sun fuses?

It forms helium. After it runs out of hydrogen, it'll form carbon. As I recall, the sun begins to die at the carbon stage because it's too small to fuse heavier elements.