TRANSMUTING ELEMENTS

Northern Advocate, 4 May 1926, Page 3

TRANSMUTING ELEMENTS

(By T. A. BLACK, B.Se.)

The interesting article from “(Science Service” in a recent issue of the “Northern Advocate” gives one more instance of the triumph of the human intellect; for even if confirmation bo lacking of the Amsterdam! experiments, the statement that transmutation has been accomplished is I proved; and the honour belongs to Sir Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealander. Ilia experimental proof of transmutation will rank with the discovery of the law of gravitation by Newton, and the broad generalisations of evolution, now applicable to jevery process in nature, built upon I the foundation laid by Darwin. In the belief that a short article dealing with the now conception of “matter,” might interest your readers I pen these lines. We were taught that an atom was “tint ultimate particle of matter,” or “the smallest particle that could enter into or bo expelled from, a chemical compound.” The new chemistry has not demolish cd the definitions just given, it has merely amplified them. Even when Dalton put forward his “atomic theory” (and, as a matter of fact, long before Dalton’s time) the hypothesis had been formulated that all the elements were merely variations of some primordial substance, and it was later suggested that this substance was i hj’drogen. The only evidence was obi tained from the “Periodical classification” of the elements, in which a certain relationship apparently held, both in the properties and atomic weights of the elements —but this was far from sufficient to establish the hypothesis. This much, however, was certain —the data, made conspicuous by the “Periodical classification,” must have an underlying 'cause. Modern chemistry has practically solved tho riddle. Dr. Aston states, “We picture the atom as consisting of a central nucleus and an outer system of electrons, but when wo come to inquire into the dimensions of the electrical particles themselves in relation to the dimensions of the atoms they compose, we are faced with a very surprising I result. The protons (forming the nucleus) and electrons are infinitesimal compared with the atom. . . . Wore we to construct a scale model of tho atom as big as tho dome of St, Paul’s, we should have some difficulty in seeing the electrons, which would be little larger than pins’ heads, whilst the protons in the nucleus would escape notice altogether. ... If we represent the nucleus of a helium atom as the size of a pea, its planetary electrons would be about a quarter of a mile away. Experimental evidence leaves us no escape from the conclusion that matter is empty. An atom, even of so heavy an element as lead is as empty as the solar system and only occupies the spherical space we allot to it by virtue of the rapid and continuous rotation of its outer electrons. Led by the knowledge that under certain conditions these outer electrons could be stripped from the atom and the nuclei thereby enabled to approach closer to each other, Eddington was able to predict that in certain stars matter could attain a density thousands of times greater than the greatest we know. This prediction has been strikingly verified by recent observation on the companion of Sirius. ...” * To transmute an element it is necessary either to add to t or subtract from, the number of protons in its atom. In the radio active elements this change takes place naturally, and the conditions governing such change cannot be affected by any known agency which can be controlled. The only way in which an element has been transmuted (unless the Am sterdam experiments are confirmed) is by bombarding its atom with the X J particle (which moves at the rate of 100,000 miles per second) and there- ■ by knocking off one or more protons. It can bo calculated that an X particle colliding with an atom will only j hit the nucleus (i.c, the protons) once in 10,000,000,000 (ten thousand million) collisions. When this happens | in the ease of most elements lighter than potassium, a proton is dislodged from the nucleus, which is thereby transmuted into another element.

The Amsterdam experiments, however, depend on a different principle. Here an attempt is made to increase the number of protons by causing an electron (or more than one) to attach itself (or themselves) to the electrons already forming part of the nucleus, and thus produce one or more new protons. This was the method used in recent experiments when it was reported that mercury had been changed into gold. Like most newspaper reports on scientific discoveries the mere assertion of success was accepted and received world-wide publication. It has now been proved that the trans-

mutation did not take place and that the gold was present as an impurity in tho mercury used. Theoretically the transmutation is possible; but (unless the Amsterdam experiments arc confirmed) so far no method has yet boon discovered of adding to the protons. The method used (an electrical one) seems somewhat similar to that used in the reported transmutation of meremy into gold, and it is the opinion of most authorities that the electrical method is ineffective because a sufficiently high potential (voltage) cannot bo obtained to overcome tho gigantic force holding tho protons together. Some slight idea of what those atomic forces could do, if it wore known how to release and control them, may be gathered from tho following statements; “If we could transmute hydrogen into helium, we should produce energy in quantities which, for any sensible amount of matter, are prodigious beyond the dreams of scientific fiction. . . . In a tumbler of water lies enough power to drive the Mauretania across the Atlantic anil back at full speed.” “Here we have at last a supply (of energy) sufficient even for the demands of astronomers; indeed there is now little doubt that tho vast supply of energy' radiated by r the stars can be kept up for centuries by the loss of an insignificant fraction of their mass. Whether this process is a degradation of hydrogen into helium, or the complete annihilation of matter b.y coalescence of its protons and electrons, is at present unknown.” It will be seen, therefore, that modern chemistry and phy'sics teach, that matter and energy are one and the same thing. The transmutation of matter into energy is a long way off—but if tho problem is ever solved, it may' be that the operation, once started, will be uncontrollable; if so, the first successful demonstration will be the last.