Question

Among the following which is an example of an artificial transmutation?
A) ${ }^{238} \mathrm{U} \rightarrow{ }^{4} \mathrm{He}+{ }^{234} \mathrm{Th}$
B) ${ }^{27} \mathrm{Al}+{ }^{4} \mathrm{He} \rightarrow^{20} \mathrm{P}+{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}$
C) ${ }^{14} \mathrm{C} \rightarrow{ }^{14} \mathrm{~N}+{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}$
D) ${ }^{226} \mathrm{Ra} \rightarrow^{4} \mathrm{He}+{ }^{222} \mathrm{Rn}$
E) $_{43}^{99~\text{m}}~\text{Tc}\to _{43}^{99}~\text{Tc}+\gamma$

Answer 1

The process of transmutation, also known as nuclear transmutation, involves a change in the nucleus of an atom. The process of transmutation might be natural or manmade. In unstable radioactive materials, the natural transmutation process occurs. Artificial transmutation, on the other hand, happens when atoms of one element are hit by basic particles. We shall become acquainted with artificial transmutation in this essay.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
The conversion of one element into another by blasting it with a basic particle is known as artificial transmutation. To generate oxygen, artificial transmutation was first performed on nitrogen, whose nucleus was blasted with a particle. The generated element has radioactivity, which results in induced radiation.
The particles that are employed for bombardment are as follows:
$\alpha -$ Particle ( $_{2}H{{e}^{4}}$ )
Proton ( $_{1}{{H}^{1}}$ )
Tritium ( $_{1}{{H}^{3}}$ )
Neutron ( $_{0}{{n}^{1}}$ )
Because positively charged nuclei repel positively charged nuclei, $\alpha -$ particles, protons, and deuterons are not appropriate projectiles. Neutrons, on the other hand, have no charge and are thought to be the best projectiles. The effect of a neutron bombarding a target element is determined by the speed of the neutrons. High-speed neutrons pass past the nucleus whereas slow neutrons penetrate it. Thermal neutrons are slower neutrons that are more effective in producing nuclear reactions than high-speed neutrons.
Artificial transmutation is exemplified by ${ }^{27} \mathrm{Al}+{ }^{4} \mathrm{He} \rightarrow^{20} \mathrm{P}+{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}$
Artificial transmutation is the process of changing one element into another through artificial means (such as blasting it with basic particles). In the process described above, Al is bombarded with He, resulting in the formation of P.

Note:
Artificial transmutation might happen in machines with enough energy to modify the nuclear structure of materials. Particle accelerators and tokamak reactors are examples of such devices. Artificial transmutation is also caused by conventional fission power reactors, but not by the machine's power, but by exposing materials to neutrons created by fission from an intentionally manufactured nuclear chain reaction.