Lead Into Gold: Modern Physics Achieves Alchemist’s Dream
For centuries, alchemists pursued the elusive dream of transmuting base metals into gold. They sought the mystical process or chemical formula that could unlock this change.While their methods proved unsuccessful, modern physics has achieved what they could not: turning lead into gold, no magic required.
the Atomic Key
The secret to this modern-day alchemy lies in understanding the essential structure of atoms. The difference between lead and gold is remarkably small: just three protons. Lead atoms possess 82 protons, while gold atoms have 79. Thus, the theoretical pathway to transforming lead into gold involves removing three protons from the nucleus of a lead atom.
Did you know? The nucleus of an atom is held together by the strong nuclear force, one of the most powerful forces known in nature. Overcoming this force is the primary challenge in nuclear transmutation.
however, this is no easy feat.Protons are bound tightly within the nucleus by the nuclear force, one of the strongest forces in nature. Overcoming this force requires immense energy and precise control.
Accidental Revelation at CERN
Ironically, scientists at CERN (the European Institution for Nuclear Research) stumbled upon this transmutation unintentionally. According to a post on the Conversation
,the team was conducting experiments with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) when they observed lead atoms shedding protons,effectively turning into gold.
Pro Tip: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. It allows scientists to study the fundamental building blocks of matter and the forces that govern them.
Driven by this unexpected finding, they initiated further experiments. They accelerated beams of lead nuclei to near light speed and collided them. when thes high-speed nuclei grazed each other, rather than colliding head-on, their intense electric fields interacted.
The Process of Transmutation
This interaction generated enough energy to vibrate the nuclei, causing them to emit protons. If precisely three protons were ejected, the lead atom transformed into gold. While scientists cannot directly observe the gold nuclei, they can measure the number of emitted protons using specialized detectors called zero-degree calorimeters. This allows them to calculate the number of gold atoms created.
Limited Success
Based on their data, the researchers estimated that approximately 89,000 gold nuclei were created every second. However, these gold atoms are incredibly small, short-lived, and unsuitable for commercial applications.
the total amount of gold produced is minuscule, amounting to only a few trillionths of a gram. Furthermore,these altered atoms are unstable within the collider beam,quickly colliding with the walls and weakening the beam. This process effectively reverses the transmutation, turning the gold back into lead.
More Problem Than Payoff
Ultimately, this accidental transmutation presents more of a challenge than a benefit for physicists. As such, for physicists, this transmutation is more of a problem than a payoff.
