Changing Oxygen Atoms: Is It Possible to Alter Element Composition?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the possibility of changing an oxygen atom into another element by adding a proton, a process known as nuclear transmutation. Participants clarify that while nuclear fusion can occur in stars, it is not feasible for individuals to perform such transformations. Specifically, adding a proton to an oxygen atom to create fluorine is complicated by the absence of a stable isotope of fluorine with eight neutrons. The conversation also touches on the existence of multiple isotopes of oxygen, but the focus remains on the challenges of achieving stable transmutation in this context.
Leronira
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As stated in the title. Is it possible?
Say for example, if I have an Oxygen Atom.
Is there anyway I can add in another proton to this Oxygen atom such that i can change it to some other element?
 
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What you are describing is nuclear fusion and yes it is possible...just not for an individual. I'm not sure if it has been tried by scientists with oxygen, but it happens in stars (that's where large atoms come from).
 


hmm...Thanks...
Ill go do more study on nuclear fussion then..=D
 


Leronira said:
As stated in the title. Is it possible?
What you are looking for is called nuclear transmutation.


Say for example, if I have an Oxygen Atom.
Is there anyway I can add in another proton to this Oxygen atom such that i can change it to some other element?
Not for oxygen, since there is no stable isotope of F with 8 neutrons.
 


Gokul43201 said:
Not for oxygen, since there is no stable isotope of F with 8 neutrons.

Why should that be a problem - there is more than one isotope of oxygen too.
 


sjb-2812 said:
Why should that be a problem - there is more than one isotope of oxygen too.
True. I assumed the OP was referring to the most abundant one.
 
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