Transmutation, Fission, and Fusion Reactions: A Guide to Nuclear Processes

Transmutation

Transmutation, Fission, and Fusion Reactions are all related to nuclear chemistry and involve the alteration of atomic nuclei to produce energy or create new elements. Here is a breakdown of each process:

Transmutation:

Transmutation refers to the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another. It can occur through natural radioactive decay or through artificial means, such as bombarding an atom with high-speed particles. Transmutation is an essential process in nuclear engineering as it is used to create new isotopes or elements and to reduce the amount of radioactive waste by converting long-lived transuranics into shorter-lived isotopes.

⇒ Fission Reactions:

Fission is a type of nuclear reaction that involves the splitting of heavy nuclei into two smaller nuclei and subatomic particles, such as neutrons. The reaction can be categorized as a decomposition reaction as a single reactant is present. Neutrons are present in these reactions as both reactants and products. When each atom splits, a tremendous amount of energy is released. Fission reactions generate a lot of energy, which can be used for various purposes.

⇒ Fusion Reactions:

Fusion is the process of combining two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, with a corresponding release of energy. This reaction occurs naturally in stars, where the intense pressure and temperature allows atomic nuclei to overcome their electrostatic repulsion and fuse together. It is the opposite of fission reactions and is considered the ultimate source of energy because it is the most efficient process of energy generation. However, it is difficult to achieve on earth as it requires extremely high temperatures and pressures.

Transmutation Reactions

Transmutation reactions refer to the process of changing one element into another through nuclear reactions. This can be achieved through a variety of different means, including:

• Alpha decay: a heavy nucleus emits an alpha particle (a helium nucleus) and becomes a nucleus with two fewer protons and two fewer neutrons.
• Beta decay: a neutron in a nucleus decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino (or a proton decays into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino). This changes the atomic number of the nucleus (i.e., the number of protons) but not its atomic mass number (i.e., the total number of protons and neutrons).
• Electron Capture: when a proton-rich nucleus captures an electron from its innermost energy level, which then combine with a proton to form a neutron, emitting a neutrino and a gamma photon.
• Spontaneous fission: Some heavy nucleus may spontaneously break apart into 2 or more fragment without the need for neutron bombardment.
• Artificial transmutation: through the use of particle accelerators, scientists can bombard a nucleus with high-energy particles, such as protons or alpha particles, in order to change its composition.

All these process also produce energy, since it's always conserved, sometimes in the form of Gamma rays, alpha, beta particles or neutrinos.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

⇒ What is transmutation?

Transmutation refers to the process of changing one chemical element or isotope into another through nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. 

⇒ How does natural transmutation occur?

Natural transmutation occurs spontaneously in unstable radioactive elements. The decay of a radioactive element leads to a series of chain reactions that result in the formation of stable elements. 

⇒ What are the types of radiation emitted during transmutation?

The types of radiation emitted during transmutation include alpha, beta, and gamma rays. 

⇒ What is artificial transmutation?

Artificial transmutation is the process of converting one element into another through the bombardment of atomic nuclei with high-energy particles like protons, neutrons, or alpha particles. 

⇒ What are some examples of artificial transmutation?

Some examples of artificial transmutation include the conversion of nitrogen into oxygen by bombarding an alpha particle into the nucleus of nitrogen and the transformation of aluminum into phosphorus by combining the nucleus with an alpha particle.

⇒ What is chemical transmutation?

Chemical transmutation is the process of changing a substance from one form or state into another. It involves the transformation of one element into another through a series of reactions, including nuclear decays that involve some energy change.

⇒ How does transmutation relate to cancer?

According to one study, biophysical and biochemical transmutation of mitochondrial function may play a role in cancer genesis.

⇒ What is alpha decay?

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a helium nucleus (atomic mass 4, atomic number 2) is released, creating an atom of a different element.

⇒ What is beta decay?

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle/electron is released from the nucleus, and the atomic number changes by one while the atomic mass remains unchanged.

⇒ What does transmutation always involve?

Transmutation always involves a change in the number of protons in the atom, which changes the atomic number and the element of the atom.

Let me know if you have more questions or if there is a specific topic that you would like to know more about.