CHEM101: General Chemistry I

Ernest Rutherford (1971–1937)

Although the conversion of one element to another is the basis of natural radioactive decay, it is also possible to convert one element to another experimentally. The conversion of one element to another is the process of transmutation.

In 1919 Rutherford converted a stable isotope to an unstable one. By bombarding nitrogen-14 with α particles he created an unstable isotope of oxygen. Transmutation may also be accomplished by bombardment with neutrons.

$^{14}_{7}\text{N}+^{4}_{2}\text{He}\rightarrow ^{17}_{8}\text{O}+^{1}_{1}\text{H}$

Historically, part of alchemy was the study of methods of creating gold from base metals, such lead. Where the alchemists failed in this quest, we can now succeed. Thus, bombardment of platinum-198 with a neutron creates an unstable isotope of platinum that undergoes decay to gold-199. Unfortunately, while we may succeed in making gold, the platinum we make it from is actually worth more than the gold making this particular transmutation economically non-viable!

$^{198}_{78}\text{Pt}+^{1}_{0}n\rightarrow\ ^{199}_{78}\text{Pt}\overset{\beta }{\rightarrow} \ ^{199}_{79}\text{Au}$

Source: Andrew R. Barron, http://www.vias.org/genchem/nuclear_chem_31328_05.html
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