Not all nuclear reactions are spontaneous. These reactions occur when stable isotopes are bombarded with particles such as neutrons. This method of inducing a nuclear reaction to proceed is termed artificial radioactivity. This meant new nuclear reactions, which wouldn't have been viewed spontaneously, could now be observed. Since about 1940, a set of new elements with atomic numbers over 92 (the atomic number of the heaviest naturally occurring element, Uranium) have been artificially made. They are called the transuranium elements.
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Artificial radioactivity is the process of inducing radioactivity in a substance by bombarding it with high-energy particles or radiation. This can result in the creation of new radioactive isotopes that do not occur naturally. Artificial radioactivity has various applications in medicine, industry, and scientific research.
Examples of artificial radioactivity include: nuclear power plants, medical imaging procedures (such as CT scans and X-rays), and nuclear weapons testing.
Irène Joliot-Curie and Frédéric Joliot produced the first artificial radioisotope in 1934. They also made significant contributions to nuclear physics, winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for their discovery of artificial radioactivity.
Radioactivity is the emission of radiation from an unstable atomic nucleus.
Copper cannot be converted into gold through any scientific process or alchemical transformation. The idea of turning base metals into gold is a concept from medieval alchemy that has no basis in reality.
Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel are notable scientists who made significant contributions to the understanding of radioactivity. Marie Curie's work on radioactivity earned her two Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.