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Artificial Transmutation

 

New York State Regents- Artificial transmutation- 2 reactants   

Natural Nuclear Transmutation -1 reactant

(Sadly, that is all you need to know.)

from-http://www.rcs.k12.va.us/chemistrynhs/advanced/01_adv_atomic/advanced_atomic.htm

Artificial Nuclear Transformations

It is possible, under the right conditions, for us to transform one element into another.  This is done by "slamming" a particle into a nucleus, causing the nucleus to change and therefore the identity or the mass of the atom.  Alpha particles can be used to transform one nucleus into another.  Since the nucleus of the alpha particle is positive and the nucleus of the atom being bombarded is also positive, the particles will naturally repel each other.  In order to over come this repulsion, the reaction must be performed at very high speeds (speed of light).  These speeds are achieved using particle accelerators.

Link --> Particle Accelerators

Determining an unknown isotope from a transmutation reaction.

 

Examples of Artificial Nuclear Transformations

Nitrogen can be transformed into hydrogen by combining its nucleus with an alpha particle. An atom of hydrogen (proton) is produced as part of the transformation.

Aluminum-27 can be transformed into phosphorus-30 by combining its nucleus with an alpha particle.  A neutron is produced as part of the transformation.

 

Other small nuclei, such as Carbon-12 and nitrogen-15 can be used to bombard heavier nuclei.

Synthesis of Some of the Transuranium Elements

Uranium is the heaviest natural element.  In 1940, neptunium was produced by neutron bombardment of uranium-238.  The process initially give uranium-239, which decays to neptunium-239 by the production of a beta particle.

Neutron Bombardmentneptunium (Z = 93)
americium (Z = 95)
Positive-ion Bombardmentcurium (Z = 96)
californium (Z = 98)    OR
rutherfordium (Z = 104)
dubnium (Z = 105)
seaborgium (Z = 106)

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