MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: How does someone invent an atom?

Area: Chemistry
Posted By: Myron Cagan, Staff Engineer, New Product/process development-microelectronics, Read-Rite Corp.
Date: Mon Nov 10 10:09:56 1997
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 877657262.Ch
Message:

'Man made' elements is a large subject. I'll give a brief summary & then some references.

Man made elements are not 'made' in the sense that we make things like cars, dishes, or other items. They are made in machines called cyclotrons which are also known as "atom smashers". What happens is that certain nuclear particles, such as protons or Helium nuclei (a proton & neutron stuck together, called an alpha particle) are shot (like cannon balls) into the nucleus of a normal element, for example, aluminum. Most of the cannon ball particles miss the small nucleus or are pushed away as they pass by the nucleus (electrical repulsion). In a sense, some of the particles are 'smashed' into the nucleus. This is why the popular name of cyclotrons & other similar machines is 'atom smasher'. So, a few of these particles hit the nucleus & 'stick'. When they stick, the nucleus they hit is changed. It now has some extra protons or neutrons in it from the cannon ball particle (a proton or an alpha particle). This changes the nucleus, and the whole atom it is a part of, into another element. This happens because the elements differ from each other in the number of protons & neutrons in their nuclei (plural of nucleus). If this process is carried out with certain heavy elements (heavy maeaning a lot of protons & neutrons in the nucleus) we find that some elements not found in nature are formed. These new elements have radiation & physical properties different from those of elements found in nature. These elements are called man made. We don't find these elements in nature because they relatively quickly radioactively decay into more stable elements which we do find in nature. So, perhaps, a long time ago, these elements did exist in nature, but they disappeared fairly quickly. The bottom of the periodic chart is where the heaviest natural elements are located. These are the ones that are the easiest to turn into new (man made) elements with atom smashers. This is why your teacher told you that man made elements are at the bottom of the Periodic Table.

You can learn more about this subject in the library. Look under Chemistry (Radiation Chemistry, Radioactivity, Nuclear Chemistry, etc.), or Nuclear Physics. There are also popular books, one of which is The Search For The Elements by Isaac Asimov (1962). This topic is also discussed in most undergraduate college chemistry text books. If you are in the 4th-6th grade you may need help in learning about the subject from your teacher, parents, or a high school friend.


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