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ssills541
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Is it possible to bombard Ir 193 with alpha particles to create Au 197? If it isn't why not? And if it is why has no one done it yet?
ssills541 said:Is it possible to bombard Ir 193 with alpha particles to create Au 197? If it isn't why not? And if it is why has no one done it yet?
In both cases, you need a significant energy for the alpha particle to get a reasonable fusion rate. And even in that case, the nucleus might emit one or two neutrons, and you don't get the correct isotope. Therefore, a nuclear resonance of 197Au would be an interesting target.I think that the point is about exothermic or endothermic, not the monetary cost.
The individual isotopes have a strong influence on that as well. In general, neutron-rich nuclei are more frequent for heavy elements, as they have an easier way to get produced in supernovae. Mercury and platinum are good examples, where the stable isotopes with the lowest neutron numbers are quite rare.Of course, the relative abundance of nuclei goes down with the mass, so similar mass have similar abundance at first order.
arivero said:use http://atom.kaeri.re.kr/ to sum the masses and tell us. Really, tell us!
I think there is a possible pathway from Hg 201.
QuantumPion said:You can bombard Hg-196 with neutrons, producing Hg-197 which then decays to Au-197. However, elemental mercury is uncommon to begin with and the natural abundance of Hg-196 is only 0.15%.
arivero said:I was thinking simple excitation of Hg201, which has a good abundance, and should go alpha to Pt 197. Then, Pt 197 undergoes spontaneously beta to Au-197.
From the tables, it seems that the energy release in the alpha decay of Hg-201 could be enough to help to keep the reaction going, a sort of subcritical transmutation machine.
QuantumPion said:My knowledge of the subject of photoalpha reactions is limited, where can you find photonuclear cross sections for Hg?
Yes, it is possible to bombard Ir 193 with alpha particles to create Au 197 through a process called nuclear transmutation. This involves changing the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
The purpose of this process is to create a new element, Au 197, which may have various practical uses such as in medical imaging or as a catalyst in chemical reactions. It also helps scientists better understand the behavior of atoms and the structure of the periodic table.
This process is typically achieved in a particle accelerator, where alpha particles are accelerated to high speeds and directed towards a target of Ir 193. The particles collide with the nucleus of Ir 193, causing it to undergo nuclear transmutation and produce Au 197.
Yes, there are potential risks and safety concerns associated with any type of nuclear transmutation. The use of high-energy particles and the creation of new elements can produce radioactive byproducts, which must be carefully handled and disposed of to ensure the safety of researchers and the environment.
Yes, this process has been successfully performed in laboratory settings. However, it is a complex and expensive process, and the resulting amounts of Au 197 produced may be very small. Therefore, it is not a practical method for large-scale production of Au 197 at this time.