can you use lead insted of mercury to gold
2006-08-05 05:31:43 · 13 answers · asked by dhanaji 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Special Education
NO!You cannot change one element into another!
2006-08-05 05:36:04 · answer #1 · answered by Wounded duckmate 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK - both of these transmutation questions have to do with the old Alchemists that tried to do this. Mercury because you could use it to separate the material from the raw ore and Lead because it is close to gold in weight so they thought it would be a small step.
Due to modern science we can state that both could be done but only using high energy processes that cost way more than the change in material you get out is worth and it's going to be highly radioactive for a long time.
In spite of the general disregard you will get on any question about transmutation of elements you might point out to all the people that tell you how impractical it is that the generally accepted view of the universe has it all starting out with Hydrogen atoms (the smallest and most basic) and through a long/short time and a big/small space being subjected to sufficient forces (mostly due the conflict of what are know as strong and weak forces that the atoms themselves generated) they changed into all the other elements that exist.
So you can't do this but the universe and rules it was setup to run by (god if you want to call it that) did.
2006-08-12 21:19:02 · answer #2 · answered by Bill M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I remember somewhere in Greek mythology, there was a man/king (?) who was able to turn anything into gold with a mere touch. But, no, as far as I know there is no way to convert mercury into gold, see other answers. This question belongs under chemistry.
2006-08-05 06:12:08 · answer #3 · answered by Suzanne G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems there was a myth or story of mercury being used as a catalyst to make gold. I think it was a hoax, but cannot remember.
However the murcury was used on something esle to try to make the gold.
2006-08-05 05:45:58 · answer #4 · answered by bamerson1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suzanne, that would be King Midas.
No, you can not change mercury to gold. You would have to be able to add subatomic particles to the nucleus of the atom besides Neutrons.
2006-08-05 17:43:50 · answer #5 · answered by star2_watch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing transmutations one can synthetically make gold using nuclear processes, but the cost is phenomenal - way more than what the gold is worth.
2006-08-05 05:37:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is precisely what the alchemists of olden days tried to do - turn different materials into gold. In the same way they couldn't do it then, it can't be done today (not cheaply anyway).
2006-08-05 05:44:11 · answer #7 · answered by homeschoolmom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I new branch of science called nanotechnology is used to create new molecules from scratch. Probably they will use to create gold and diamonds, who knows !!
2006-08-13 00:43:55 · answer #8 · answered by FootballFan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO. Alchemy was proved wrong long ago.
Alchamy: the art of converting a metal into another.
2006-08-05 05:47:08 · answer #9 · answered by Ewnet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what?
Lead doesn't turn into gold....and neither will mercury.
You should have paid more attention in science at school!!
2006-08-05 05:37:19 · answer #10 · answered by Chatty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no not at all bcoz if this would happen than all of us will start this job to get gold
2006-08-10 19:06:31 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋