For centuries, alchemists pursued the elusive goal of turning lead into gold, driven by the belief that the right mystical process or chemical concoction could transmute base metals into treasures. Although their methods proved unsuccessful, the dream of metal transmutation is not as far-fetched as it once seemed. In a remarkable turn of events, modern physicists have achieved this feat—without any magic involved.
The fundamental difference between a lead atom and a gold atom lies in the number of protons. Lead contains 82 protons, whereas gold has only 79. Theoretically, by stripping away three protons from a lead nucleus, one could create gold. However, this process is fraught with challenges, as protons are tightly bound within the nucleus due to the nuclear force, one of nature’s most powerful forces.
Interestingly, scientists at CERN weren’t actively attempting to turn lead into gold when they made this groundbreaking discovery. According to a post on The Conversation, the research group was conducting experiments with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) when they observed lead atoms shedding enough protons to transform into gold. Intrigued, they began further experiments.
In their experiments, researchers accelerated beams of lead nuclei to near light speed and then smashed them into each other. During these high-speed interactions, the nuclei did not collide head-on but instead grazed past one another. This close encounter generated intense electric fields that could vibrate the nuclei, causing them to emit protons. Remarkably, if exactly three protons are ejected, the lead atom is converted into gold.
While scientists cannot directly observe the gold nuclei, they can infer their presence by counting the protons knocked loose with specialized detectors known as zero-degree calorimeters. Based on their calculations, researchers estimate that approximately 89,000 gold nuclei are produced every second. However, it’s essential to temper excitement over this achievement.
The gold atoms created during these experiments are minuscule, fleeting, and entirely impractical for commercial use. In total, the amount of gold produced is merely a few trillionths of a gram. Additionally, these altered atoms do not remain stable within the collider beam; they quickly collide with the walls, leading to a gradual weakening of the beam over time. As a result, the gold ultimately reverts back to lead.
For physicists, this process of transmutation serves as more of an intriguing scientific curiosity than a lucrative opportunity. While the dream of turning lead into gold has finally taken a step toward reality, the practicality of such endeavors remains limited. The journey from ancient alchemy to modern physics reveals not just the evolution of science, but also the enduring allure of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
