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Creating Gold through Alpha Decay
MadScientistMoose:
Ok so i am up at 4 o clock and remembering a lesson i learned in chemistry in my sophmore year of highschool. When an element undergoes Alpha decay, it reacts with 4/2 He to create a new element. Therefor it is possible to create Au through such a reaction. The reaction i have worked out starts with 208/83 Bi and creates 204/81 Tl through alpha decay. From there, the Tl creats 200/97 Au through alpha decay. My questions are as follows:
1) Will this really work?
2) How do i take a sample of Bismuth and submit it to alpha decay when all i have is a solid sample? I know a cyclotron will be needed, but how to i put the bismuth and the helium in the cyclotron to collide in the fashion i want them to?
DrCMS:
Short answer No
Long answer
Alpha decay is the loss of 2 protons and 2 neutrons not their absorption.
208Bi decays by electron caputre to give 208Pb.
If you hit it with neutron you'll make 209Bi and 210Bi and 211Bi which can decay by LOSS of an alpha particle to Tl .
The Thallium formed depending on atomic number is either stable or decays by beta emmision to give Lead.
Most of the things that might decay to give gold are much more expensive than gold.
You can turn lead into gold using a B&W TV and a freezer but it takes years just to get a few atom thick film of gold on the lead surface.
Alchemy doesn't work.
Grumples:
THis is completely irrelevant, but how can you turn lead into gold using a TV and a freezer? Sounds interesting... :)
P-man:
I must agree with DrCMS. Alchemy led to chemistry, but it just is impossible. :'(
Garneck:
--- Quote from: Grumples on June 06, 2005, 10:46:03 AM ---THis is completely irrelevant, but how can you turn lead into gold using a TV and a freezer? Sounds interesting... :)
--- End quote ---
This is possible. Send me you credit card numer and a pin - and I will tell you ;D ;)
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