Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Chemistry / Inorganic Chemistry / Difference Between Natural and Artificial Transmutation

Difference Between Natural and Artificial Transmutation

December 30, 2019 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between natural and artificial transmutation is that natural transmutation is the radioactive decay that occurs in the core of stars. Whereas, artificial transmutation is the conversion of an element into another element artificially.

Transmutation is the change in the atomic nuclei, which leads to the conversion of a chemical element into a different chemical element. There are two types of transmutation: natural and artificial transmutation.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Natural Transmutation
3. What is Artificial Transmutation
4. Side by Side Comparison – Natural vs Artificial Transmutation in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Natural Transmutation?

Natural transmutation is a type of nuclear transmutation which occurs naturally. Here, the number of protons or neutrons in the atomic nuclei of a particular chemical element changes, which converts a chemical element into a different chemical element. Natural transmutation occurs in the core of stars via stellar nucleosynthesis. This means in the core of the stars, nuclear fusion reactions create new chemical elements. In most stars, these fusion reactions occur with hydrogen and helium. However, large stars can perform fusion reactions using heavy elements such as iron.

Difference Between Natural and Artificial Transmutation

Figure 01: Natural Transmutation occurs in Stars

A common example of natural transmutation is the radioactive decay of radioactive elements, which occurs spontaneously (alpha decay and beta decay). For example, most of the argon gas in air is formed from the natural transmutation of potassium-40. Moreover, unlike in artificial transmutation, natural transmutation occurs in the presence of a single reactant because a second reactant is not required to initiate the reaction.

What is Artificial Transmutation?

Artificial transmutation is a type of nuclear transmutation we can perform artificially. And, this type of transmutations occurs via the bombardment of an atomic nucleus with another particle. This reaction can convert a particular chemical element into a different chemical element. The first experimental reaction for this reaction was the bombardment of a nitrogen atom with an alpha particle to produce oxygen. Usually, the newly formed chemical element shows radioactivity. We name these elements as tracer elements. The most common particles that are used for bombardment are alpha particles and deuteron.

Key Difference - Natural vs Artificial Transmutation

Figure 02: Artificial Transmutation can occur in Particle Accelerators

Moreover, artificial transmutation can take place in machines where a large amount of energy is produced; this is enough to alternate the nuclear chemical structure of atoms; for example, particle accelerators, different nuclear reactors, etc. Typically, artificial transmutation occurs via fission reactions.

What is the Difference Between Natural and Artificial Transmutation?

Transmutation is the change in the atomic nuclei, which leads to the conversion of a chemical element into a different chemical element. There are two types of transmutation: natural and artificial transmutation. The key difference between natural and artificial transmutation is that natural transmutation is the radioactive decay that occurs in the core of stars whereas artificial transmutation is the conversion of an element into another element artificially.

Moreover, natural transmutation reactions usually take place via fusion reactions, while artificial transmutation occurs mostly via fission reactions. So, this is another difference between natural and artificial transmutation. In addition to these, natural transmutations involve a single reactant and a spontaneous reaction, whereas artificial transmutation involves a chemical element and a particle to initiate fission reaction. Particles we can use for this purpose are alpha particles and deuterons. For example, natural transmutation is the major reaction that occurs in the core of stars. Meanwhile, artificial transmutation can occur in heavy machinery which produces a large amount of energy.

Difference Between Natural and Artificial Transmutation in Tabular Form

Summary – Natural vs Artificial Transmutation

Transmutation is the change in the atomic nuclei that leads to the conversion of a chemical element into a different chemical element. There are two types of transmutation: natural and artificial transmutation. The key difference between natural and artificial transmutation is that natural transmutation is the radioactive decay that occurs in the core of stars whereas artificial transmutation is the conversion of an element into another element artificially.

Reference:

1. “11.4: Artificial Transmutation.” Chemistry LibreTexts, Libretexts, 20 Aug. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Sun in X-Ray” By NASA Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres and Yohkoh Legacy data Archive – NASA Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres,  Yohkoh mission of ISAS, Japan (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Aerial 2” By Victor Blacus – Derived from File:SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Aerial.jpg (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Muscovite and BiotiteDifference Between Muscovite and Biotite Difference Between Organosilicon and SiliconeDifference Between Organosilicon and Silicone Difference Between Coordination Compound and Complex IonDifference Between Coordination Compound and Complex Ion Difference Between Single Displacement and Double Displacement ReactionDifference Between Single Displacement and Double Displacement Reaction Key Difference - SO2 vs SO3Difference Between SO2 and SO3

Filed Under: Inorganic Chemistry

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

What is the Difference Between Hydroxyzine HCL and Hydroxyzine Pamoate

What is the Difference Between Hydroxyzine HCL and Hydroxyzine Pamoate

Difference Between Grief and Bereavement

Difference Between Translate and Interpret

Difference Between Translate and Interpret

Difference Between Corn and Wart

What is the Difference Between IVIG and Plasmapheresis

What is the Difference Between IVIG and Plasmapheresis

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Cervical Spondylosis
  • What is the Difference Between PAC and PVC
  • What is the Difference Between Neuralgia and Neuritis
  • What is Difference Between Craniopharyngioma and Pituitary Adenoma
  • What is the Difference Between Hydrochlorothiazide and Chlorthalidone
  • What is the Difference Between Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndrome
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.