HOAE General Science Practice Test

Which element is formed last in the stages of nuclear fusion inside stars?

Hydrogen Carbon Helium Oxygen

Correct Answer:

Oxygen

Explanation:

In stars, fusion builds heavier elements through successive burning stages: hydrogen fuses into helium, then helium burning creates carbon and oxygen. In the helium-burning phase, carbon is formed first via the triple-alpha process, and some carbon can capture another helium nucleus to become oxygen. So, among these elements, oxygen appears later in this stage than carbon. While stars can proceed to even heavier elements in later burning stages (neon, magnesium, silicon, iron), those options aren’t listed here, so oxygen is the last formed within the shown set.

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