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Photodisintegration, the Fissioning of Iron Nuclei into Helium Nuclei by High-Energy

Question 159

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Photodisintegration, the fissioning of iron nuclei into helium nuclei by high-energy gamma radiation, occurs only at the very end of the life of a massive star. Why can photodisintegration not occur earlier? Choose the statement that is NOT correct.


A) Iron nuclei do not exist in anything but trace amounts before this stage.
B) Gamma radiation of sufficient energy is not produced before this stage.
C) The fissioning of an iron nucleus requires energy, and the energy-rich environment that allows fissioning to happen does not exist before this stage.
D) Under the conditions of the previous stages of evolution, iron (26Fe) disappears as quickly as it is formed by combining with helium (4He) to produce zinc (30Zn) .

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