2006-10-19 10:57:18 · 9 answers · asked by mehdi_alm 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
It can and has been done. Carbon has been turned into diamonds. Process is expensive, so it is used mostly for industrial diamond uses (blade sharpeners, drill bits, etc.)
The proverbial turning lead into gold has also been accomplished. Unfortunately that nuclear process is also expensive, so it costs more to turn lead into gold, than to buy the gold. If they ever solve the cost problem, the gold market would bottom out.
2006-10-19 11:03:04 · answer #1 · answered by Sir Ed 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We can change the atomic number of an element. You can bombard atoms with various sorts of radiation (e.g. electrons, photons, helium atoms). Many PET agents use radioactive fluorine-containing molecules. 18[F] has a half-life of 110 minutes, so it has to be made prior to the scan.
You need elemental carbon to make diamond. Graphite is another form of carbon. By heating graphite or some other carbon form under extreme pressure, we can create diamonds. These diamonds are not as pure as naturally occuring diamonds, because we cannot achieve the necessary pressure and temperature to form the same quality diamonds as are found in nature.
2006-10-19 11:18:32 · answer #2 · answered by davisoldham 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
diamond is made of pure carbon (like the stuff that comes out of your pencil, graphite).
However it is a tetrahedronally carbon bonded face centre cubic crystal which is incredibly hard and can only be formed by immense amounts of heat and pressure usually over long periods of time. This is something incredibly difficult to replicate in lab conditions.
About changing the atomic number of something: this isn't at easy as it sounds. The way things generally change their proton number is by radioactive decay, fission or fusion - all of which either require huge amounts of energy or make them highly dangerous. Lead to Gold is a classic example but unfortunately they are so close on the periodic table, but unfortunately things aren't simple. Both are highly unreactive metals and cannot be coerced into responding as we might wish.
It is sad but true.
Also - if we could make diamond then it would no longer be a precious commodity and would lose all of its value.
2006-10-19 11:05:01 · answer #3 · answered by Stuart T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try figure out how to change lead to gold instead. Both situations are similar. Yes it's possible but it's hard to figure out which atomic number you take away in order to make it work. We all know what 'mud' is spelled backwards if you screw it up.
2006-10-19 11:11:37 · answer #4 · answered by mrgoodbar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's something that we have been working on, it's called fusion. Carbon and diamonds aren't different atomic numbers, they are the same element. Diamonds are just compressed carbon.
2006-10-19 11:05:10 · answer #5 · answered by goldja2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can. It is not as good as real diamonds. But that is carbon to pressed carbon. As far as changing elements, we can. We have made gold from regular metal, but changing an element is REALLY expensive.
2006-10-19 11:55:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. We can't produce the pressure needed as the earth can.
2. If we could it would still take millions of years.
2006-10-19 11:02:31 · answer #7 · answered by SE_FU 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can....but the process cost more than the diamond is worth.
2006-10-19 11:45:53 · answer #8 · answered by The Cheminator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
alchemy huh?
2006-10-19 11:04:24 · answer #9 · answered by K E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋