Nuclear Transmutation

Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another. In other words, atoms of one element can be changed into atoms of other element by 'transmutation'. This occurs either through nuclear reactions (in which an outside particle reacts with a nucleus), or through radioactive decay (where no outside particle is needed).

Though all transmutation is caused either by radioactive decay or nuclear reaction, the reverse is not true, as not all types of either decay or nuclear reaction cause transmutation. The most common types of radioactive decay that do not cause transmutation are gamma decay and the related process internal conversion. However, most other types of decay do cause transmutation of the decaying radioisotope. Similarly, a few nuclear reactions do not cause transmutation (for example the gain or loss of a neutron might not cause transmutation), although in practice, most nuclear reactions, and types of nuclear reactions, do result in transmutation.

Nuclear transmutation can occur through various natural processes, or it may be artificially induced by human intervention.