Generalized Nucleosynthesis in a Massive Star · Earth and Space Sciences Reference Tables (ESSRT)
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The Generalized Nucleosynthesis in a Massive Star model from the Reference Tables for Earth and Space Sciences (ESSRT) shows the series of nuclear fusion stages that build heavier and heavier elements inside a massive star, and how long each stage lasts. It primarily supports HS-ESS1-3.
What the nucleosynthesis model shows
The model is drawn as a cross section of the star, with fusion shells layered like an onion: hydrogen fusing to helium in the outermost shell, then helium to carbon, carbon to oxygen, oxygen to silicon and silicon to iron, around a core of iron (Fe). A table beside it gives the duration of each stage: 7 × 106 years for hydrogen to helium, 7 × 105 years for helium to carbon, 600 years for carbon to oxygen, 6 months for oxygen to silicon, 1 day for silicon to iron and a quarter of a second for core collapse. Each stage is far shorter than the one before it.
Regents Exam Questions
Released Regents questions that cannot be answered without this table, listed by exam. Each link opens the question with its answer key; the standard is the one the question assesses. The exams through August 2026 were given with the earlier edition of the ESSRT, which has the same table.