Transmutation

Transmutation is the conversion of one element or isotope into another. This can occur through nuclear reactions, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, or through radioactive decay. In alchemy, transmutation referred to the transformation of one substance into another, often aiming to turn base metals into gold or to create the philosopher's stone. The Hebrew translation for transmutation is המרה (hamarah). In French, it is transmutation, in German Umwandlung, in Spanish transmutación, and in Japanese 転換 (tenkan). Key contextual information includes the understanding that transmutation in a nuclear context involves changing the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, thereby changing the element itself. This process is fundamental in nuclear power generation and medical applications, such as the production of radioactive isotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.