When one element is converted into another element artificially then it is known as Artificial Transmutation. It is a type of artificial radioactivity.
This concept came in the year 1919 i.e. 20years after the radioactivity was discovered. Rutherford discovered the concept of Artificial Transmutation of Elements when he thought of fussing nitrogen nucleus with alpha particle. With this reaction he obtained the oxygen traces and hence the artificial transmutation was achieved.
Following equation explains the concept of Artificial Transmutation:
7N14 + 2He4 ——-> 8O17 + 1H1
Hence the nitrogen is converted into an oxygen isotope by the bombardment of alpha particle. Many other radioactive isotopes were developed with the help of alpha particle bombardment.
The above reaction can took place only when there is head-on collision of alpha particle with a nitrogen nucleus.
Chadwick discovered Neutron (a sub-atomic particle) in 1932, by bombarding the beryllium with alpha particles.
4Be9 + 2He4 ——-> 6C12 + on1
In the Artificial Transmutation the neutrons are more useful than alpha particles because the alpha particles are positively charged and which are repelled by the nucleus because nucleus is also positively charged while neutrons are neutral, hence remains unaffected. Thus the transmutations which are not possible through alpha particles can b achieved through neutrons.
Neutron was discovered by James Chadwick for which he was awarded with the Physics Nobel Prize in 1935.
Some important Fundamental particles which are used for bombardment are as follows:
Alpha particle: Helium Nucleus, representation: 2He4
Proton : Hydrogen Nucleus, representation: 1H1
Deuteron : Deuterium (heavy Hydrogen) Nucleus, representation: 1H2
Neutron : Particle having mass number 1 and no charge, Representation: 0n1
