Artificial Trasmutation

Question 1

What is artificial transmutation?

Answer 1

Artificial Transmutation is a type of nuclear reaction where an atom is bombarded (to fire many small particles at a high speed) with smaller particles (alpha, protons and neutrons). This type of reaction is created artificially by humans in places like nuclear reactors and particle accelerators. In artificial transmutation, the resulting particles may be stable or radioactive. If the resulting particles are radioactive, they will then decay.

Question 2

Artificial Transmutation

Answer 2

There are two (or more) particles on the left hand side. The equations balance when:

• numbers along the top line are equal before and after the arrow
• the numbers along the bottom line are equal before and after the arrow

DON’T FORGET: The particles used for bombardment must have very high speeds to overcome the electrostatic repulsion in the atom they are fired at.

Question 3

Artificial Transmutation vs Natural Radioactive Decay

Answer 3

Cause

Artificial Transmutation: when a nucleus is bombarded with smaller atoms
Natural radioactive decay: occurs naturally in an unstable atom

Equation

Artificial Transmutation: Will have two or more particles
Natural Radioactive Decay: Will have one particle only